A CHILD FOUND in a Dublin street by a passerby was believed to have been trafficked into Ireland for sex, The Child Law Project has reported.

A passer-by who had found the child said she was extremely distressed and unwell.

Dublin District Court granted an interim care order (ICO) for the girl, who said she was homeless.

A social worker said that the child had been living in Ireland for approximately one year but had no English. The girl told the social worker that she was previously raised by her grandparents in her home country, however both have since died.

A local family said they would take care of her and give her a good life, but later sold her to a man who brought her to Ireland. The child had been trafficked for sex and suffered physical and sexual abuse.

She had no contacts in Ireland and did not have the contact details for the man who had brought her to Ireland.

The child had said that she would go to restaurants and other businesses run by people she came to know and ask for help. She said they would sometimes give her a place to sleep for the night.

The social worker said that the child had arrived with just the clothes on her back and was particularly vulnerable. Even though she had been in Ireland for the past year she had no English at all.

She had limited education as she had only completed three years of school in her home country because her grandparents could not afford education.

Despite saying that she had been homeless for the past year and sleeping rough, gardaí said that she did not look like she was sleeping on the street as she was tidy, though very unwell. 

The child had been brought to a doctor, prescribed antibiotics, and tested for sexually transmitted diseases. The social worker said that the child had become very distressed when she disclosed sensitive information, however she was open about what had happened to her. 

The child had been placed in a high need placement specifically for unaccompanied minors. 

The Child Law Project, which monitors child protection proceedings, published 77 case reports today. 

The organisation said that parental drug addiction remained a major cause of children entering care in Ireland.

Mental health issues and domestic violence also continue to feature among the reasons for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, seeking care orders.

Several cases saw newborn babies being taken into care, frequently as a result of drug abuse by the mother, with some babies suffering from drug withdrawal at birth. 

The reports published today also include a number of cases where children who had suffered neglect or injury in their parents’ care are now thriving in foster care and overcoming early development delays.

It was noted that high levels of pressure are being experienced by Tusla in providing appropriate placements for vulnerable children, especially those with complex needs.

The names and locations of the children have not been disclosed to protect their identities.