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Schools aid in abused girl search Schools aid in abused girl search
(about 8 hours later)
Primary school teachers across Ireland are being shown pictures of a girl who police fear may have been abused.Primary school teachers across Ireland are being shown pictures of a girl who police fear may have been abused.
It is understood officers are visiting hundreds of schools on both sides of the border to try to identify the child.It is understood officers are visiting hundreds of schools on both sides of the border to try to identify the child.
She is thought to be between eight and 11 and the pictures are thought to have been downloaded from the internet.She is thought to be between eight and 11 and the pictures are thought to have been downloaded from the internet.
A PSNI spokeswoman said it was involved in a joint investigation with gardai regarding a child protection issue.A PSNI spokeswoman said it was involved in a joint investigation with gardai regarding a child protection issue.
The police said the matter was very sensitive and the images would not be published.The police said the matter was very sensitive and the images would not be published.
The story was revealed in the Irish News newspaper on Wednesday.The story was revealed in the Irish News newspaper on Wednesday.
Fiona MacMillan from the children's charity, Barnardos, told the BBC she had never heard of such a move before.Fiona MacMillan from the children's charity, Barnardos, told the BBC she had never heard of such a move before.
We think it is very important that police have identified that they think this child is from Ireland Fiona MacMillanBarnardos
She said the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre had been very successful in closing down child abuse sites, and also trying to trace children who were being abused.She said the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre had been very successful in closing down child abuse sites, and also trying to trace children who were being abused.
This organisation works across the UK and maximises international links to tackle child sex abuse. Ms McMillan said her organisation and sister organisations in the Republic of Ireland had, in the past, called for closer co-operation between police services in Ireland on such issues.
Legal loophole
Ms McMillan said in the past crime often had to be reported before police could investigate it.
She said her organisation and sister organisations in the Republic of Ireland had, in the past, called for closer co-operation between police services in Ireland on such issues.
"We do know that people who do these things often look for loopholes in laws in different jurisdictions," she said.
"We think it is very important that they have in some way identified that they think this child is from Ireland and that they are doing it on both sides of the border simultaneously to as quickly as possible try to find this child.""We think it is very important that they have in some way identified that they think this child is from Ireland and that they are doing it on both sides of the border simultaneously to as quickly as possible try to find this child."