A Garda investigation into the alleged sexual abuse and neglect of children and a vulnerable adult is also looking for links to the case of a missing woman who has long been feared dead. Three men were arrested on Monday for questioning about the alleged sexual abuse and neglect. They were released without charge on Tuesday evening.
The men detained for questioning were not being interviewed about the woman; that is a separate inquiry, even though it is believed the two cases have strong links.
The missing woman vanished many years ago. Though she was reported missing, no trace of her was ever found and gardaí suspect she is dead. In the connected, though separate, inquiry into the alleged abuse and neglect, gardaí are investigating concerns the alleged victims were living in very poor circumstances in an extended family setting.
The alleged abuse is said to have taken place in those living conditions, though the children and vulnerable adult who were allegedly at risk have since been relocated.
In the case of the missing woman, The Irish Times understands her case never garnered significant media coverage even though there were concerns for her welfare, and for her life, from the time she was reported missing.
There have never been any arrests in relation to the missing woman. Though gardaí strongly suspect she is dead, the case remains a missing persons inquiry and has not been upgraded to a homicide inquiry.
The men arrested on Monday in relation to the alleged sexual abuse and neglect are aged in their 30s, 40s and 50s. They were arrested during a search at a property in Leinster. The operation was the latest phase in what has been an ongoing criminal investigation by the gardaí.
The inquiry has been described by Garda sources as “complex” and “sensitive”. Gardaí suspect some of the young members of the extended family network were sexually abused and neglected over a period of years.
One of the men arrested on Monday was questioned on suspicion of sexual abuse, another on suspicion of neglect and the third on suspicion of withholding information that may be relevant to the investigation.
Gardaí said in response to queries that three men, aged in their 30s, 40s and 50s, were arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation, and were detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. They added no further comment.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
