A man has been arrested in connection with the attempted abduction of a 12-year-old girl in Co Laois was on bail for robbery at the time.

The suspect is also wanted by gardai for questioning in relation to other robberies, independent.ie understands.

The man was arrested earlier today in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, by gardai investigating the atttempted abduction of a 12-year-old girl.

The incident occurred at Cullahill, Co Laois, yesterday morning.

It's understood the girl was walking with her ten-year-old brother and another child when the man approached them in a stolen Nissan jeep.

It is believed he tried to lure the children into the vehicle - and managed to put the young girl into the back.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Photo: An Garda Siochana The scene of the attempted abduction in Cullahill. Cullahill, Co Laois / Facebook

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Whatsapp Photo: An Garda Siochana

However, the ten-year-old boy managed to foil the abduction by distracting the man after jumping on the vehicle giving his sister the time she needed to escape. The man then fled the scene.

Today, the girl's younger brother was being hailed a hero for saving his sister.

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Gardai, based in Portlaoise, managed to trace the man to Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny. They arrested him earlier today and conveyed him to Portloaise Garda Station where he remains in custody.

They have also traced the stolen jeep he had been using at the time, which had a registration number 04 KK 2649.

Expand Close The scene of the attempted abduction in Cullahill. / Facebook

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Whatsapp The scene of the attempted abduction in Cullahill.

A garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí wish to thank the media and the public for their assistance in this matter. No further action is required."

Earlier this morning, gardai had appealed for the public's help in tracing the stolen Nissan jeep.

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The jeep was seen acting suspiciously in the area prior to the incident, gardai said.

Anne-Marie Bowe, principal of the local Cullohill National School said the school texted all parents asking them to pick their children up promptly when school finished.

“We dealt with it very, very practically. We very casually went through the whole ‘Stay Safe’ programme again with the students. We do it every year but this pre-empted us."

"We did send out a text to all their parents and asked them to pick their children up promptly and they were accompanied by class teachers to the gate."

Both children were not students in the school, she added.

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