Gardaí said tonight they have identified the girl found on O’Connell Street in Dublin last month .
They are now following a definite line of inquiry after assistance from the public.
While they have not released the girl’s name or where she is from, they say they will be liaising closely with the Australian police and the HSE to “finalise the matter.”
Earlier today, gardaí released a photo of the girl after reaching “an impasse” in their investigations.
The High Court last week granted gardaí permission to release information about the teenager, believed to be aged 14 or 15, who was found in a distressed state outside the GPO on October 10th.
Superintendent David Taylor said today gardaí have established the clothes she was found wearing were purchased in “major Irish retailers”.
The girl is described as 168cm (5ft 6in) in height, of slim build, and having long blonde hair. When found, she was wearing a purple hooded top, tight dark coloured jeans, flat black shoes, and a grey woollen jumper.
“We understand that the clothes were purchased in major Irish retailers,” said Supt Taylor. “We have carried out extensive enquiries but we have been unable to determine when these clothes were bought.”
The girl has been fitted with braces on her teeth and gardaí said they have canvassed paediatric orthodontists across Ireland for information. "Maybe she got treatment in another jurisdiction so we're hoping some professional might come forward and say they treated the child," said Supt Taylor. He added there is "nothing particularly characteristic" about the braces.
Gardaí have “engaged” with the girl, who has limited English, but up to now they had been unable to identify her or her country of origin. Specialist child interviewers have been utilised by investigators.
Supt Taylor said the Garda investigation into the matter - dubbed Operation Shepard - had been "huge". It has involved over 2,000 man hours and been conducted in collaboration with a number of agencies including Interpol, the Garda National Immigration Bureau and the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit.
Some 115 lines of enquiry have been followed up on, including the canvassing of airports, ports, and train stations. Guesthouses and B&Bs in the city centre have been contacted and checked for individuals who made bookings and failed to turn up.
CCTV footage from the area the girl was found as well as from around the city have been trawled through - while the Garda Pulse system and missing persons list have also been examined.
As a result of these enquiries, 15 possible names were provided to investigators - but all of these were checked and proved fruitless.
“The child’s welfare is paramount,” said Supt Taylor. “We don’t take [releasing the girl’s photo] lightly. We conducted a huge investigation - engaged with everybody - but we’ve come to the point where we’re unable to identify her.
“Obviously the child is in an interim care order with the HSE at the moment. Anybody who comes forward, a full investigation will be conducted to confirm the veracity of information.”
The HSE was against a picture of the girl being published. Its lawyers said professionals who have been working with her believe publication could have “a disturbing effect on her”.
