An 18-year-old man has been arrested.
A Child Rescue Ireland Alert (CRI) issued by Gardaí to help trace the whereabouts of 14-year-old girl Svetlana Murphy has been stood down after the teen was found safe and well in the Belfast area.
In a statement issued by Gardaí on Thursday night, a spokesperson said: “She is in the safe custody of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and will be reunited with her family tonight.”
Gardaí wish to advise that the CRI Alert has now been stood down.
Svetlana Murphy has been located safe and well in Belfast this evening. She will be reunited with her family tonight.
All previous Tweets regarding this CRI Alert have now been removed.
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) April 22, 2021
The CRI was issued on Thursday, with Gardaí stating they had “serious concerns” there was an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of Murphy, and that she was in the company of 18-year-old Nojus Maculevicius.
At around 4pm on Monday, 19 April, 2021, Murphy left her home on the Coast Road in Blackrock, Louth.
Gardaí had said Murphy and Maculevicius travelled from Blackrock in Louth to Newry in Down on Monday.
The car they were travelling in was spotted in the greater Belfast area at 5.35pm on Wednesday, 21 April and several CRIs had been issued overnight on Wednesday and into Thursday by An Garda Síochána before Svetlana Murphy was found.
Cancelling the CRI on Thursday night, Gardaí revealed an 18-year-old male has been arrested by the PSNI and is in custody.
The PSNI’s statement read: “An 18-year-old man has been arrested and is assisting police with their enquiries.”
Gardaí have asked for the privacy of Murphy’s family to be respected at this time and thanked the public for their assistance during the alert.
Following a Child Rescue Ireland Alert issued by An Garda Siochana, 14 year old Svetlana Murphy has been found safe and well by police. An 18 year old man has been arrested and is assisting police with their enquiries. Thank you all for your assistance with this investigation. pic.twitter.com/HyQE7Ymi83
— Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) April 22, 2021
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