Gardai are investigating allegations that a five-year-old girl was beaten and sexually assaulted by three boys aged seven, eight and ten after allegedly being lured to a shed at a derelict house.

The child is understood to have escaped and raised the alarm following the incident.

It is believed that the young girl knew the three young schoolboys who carried out the alleged assault.

The incident happened at the end of June. Sources say the young girl apparently ‘fought back’ against the three boys, and that her account is being treated as ‘credible’.

The allegations are being investigated by a team of gardaí from a specialist unit, the Divisional Protective Services Unit.

Detectives are waiting to conduct detailed interviews with all four children.

It is alleged the five-year-old girl went with the three boys – whom she knew from the locality – to a shed within the confines of a derelict house and was beaten with sticks.

The child fled the scene after she was beaten and then subjected to ‘inappropriate touching’ by the boys, it is alleged. She managed to escape and ran home and informed her parents, who immediately notified gardaí, it has been claimed. The child was not seriously injured, but was taken for a medical assessment and is said to be ‘highly traumatised’ by the incident.

Local gardaí have prepared preliminary reports in the investigation, but the ‘full facts’ have yet to be established.

The case has also been referred to the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. Its role is to assess whether there is a child protection issue and whether a child is at risk.

Gardaí confirmed that an investigation is under way but declined to provide any details about the case.

Sources say it is ‘improbable’ that any prosecutions will result, as the three boys are under the age of criminal responsibility.

The Children’s Act defines that no child under the age of 12 can be charged with a criminal offence.

However, exceptions to this exist in cases of suspected rape or murder, and in such instances children aged ten and 11 can be charged. There is no suggestion the girl in this case was raped.