A principal of a rural Clare primary school has warned parents to remain vigilant after a man allegedly tried to entice a schoolchild into his car yesterday afternoon.
Today, gardaí confirmed that they "are investigating reports of an alleged suspicious approach to a child that is reported to have occurred in the Clooney area outside Ennis".
A garda spokesman said that "enquiries are ongoing".
Clooney National School is around six kilometres east of Ennis.
In a note circulated to parents of the 72 children who attend the school after the incident yesterday, Clooney National School Principal Shane Greene relayed details of what is alleged to have happened earlier in the day.
He stated that "a male in a purple van spoke to a child at 3pm outside the school. He said to the child, 'Your Mam told me to pick you up'. Having unsuccessfully enticed the child into the car, the van drove away."
Mr Greene told parents: "This is an extremely serious and upsetting incident. I would ask that we all remain vigilant."
Mr Greene said that "parents should remind children not to leave the school grounds until their car is visible after school. Teachers will also do this and will be accompanying the children to the wall after school".
Mr Greene asked if anyone with dashcam footage or any further information to please contact Ennis Garda Station at 065 6848100.
Principal of another primary school, Barefield National School located on the outskirts of Ennis, John Burns has also circulated a note to parents of children there concerning the incident at Clooney.
Mr Burns told parents that he was alerting them "to this possible danger" out of a duty of care.
Mr Burns wrote: "Please note the correct procedure for notifying the school if you are aware of any such incidents is through the Principal."
