He was reportedly interacting with multiple children.
Scoil Maelruain Junior School in Tallaght has issued a warning to parents. The school is concerned after a “suspicious” man was spotted trying to break a locked gate to gain access to the school grounds.
The incident occurred on January 24th. Children were playing in the schoolyard when he tried to break in.
Luckily, the man did not gain entry to the school despite his efforts to do so.
A letter has been sent to parents about the serious incident.
They have been advised to contact the Gardaí if their child had any interaction with the man.
The school called Gardaí to the scene, but no arrests were made.
In a letter to parents, which has been shared on Facebook, the principal stressed that the man didn’t access the school.
The letter reads: “The staff members who were supervising the yard noticed that there was a man acting suspiciously at the locked gate onto the playground.
“It is believed that he interacted with some of the children through the gates. I wish to stress that this man did not gain entry onto the school grounds despite the efforts to do so.
“He was immediately prevented from gaining entry by the teacher supervising the children,” the principal shared.
“The teacher noticed that he continued to loiter around the gates. He took out his phone and he appeared to direct his phone towards the children.”
“A member of staff instructed him to put his camera away, which he did,” they added.
When staff asked him why he was there, the man changed his answer every time.
The man was spotted loitering outside the Tallaght school.
Principal Ryan said the man left when another member of staff approached him. He then went over to the playground in front of the community centre.
He also approached children at the playground too.
Gardaí are now investigating the matter.
The principal added: “I urge you due to the serious nature of this incident to speak to your children if they had any interactions with him.”
Parents should contact Tallaght Garda Station on 01 6666 000.
“I have spoken to all staff members who had a first-hand account of this incident to ascertain exactly what happened,” she stressed.
