Gardai probe reports man tried to grab girl's hand through Kildare school railings

Picture above shows the main entrance to St Brigid's Primary School   Gardai are investigating reports of an incident in which a man tried to grab the hand of 11-year-old girl at a Kildare town school yesterday. The fifth class pupil was in the yard of St Brigid's Primary School when she said the unidentified male made the gesture through railings at play time. A Garda spokesman told KildareNow that officers in Kildare town are fully investigating a report of the incident which happened around 12 noon. A complaint about the incident was made by a member of the public to Kildare Garda Station yesterday and officers are seeking further information from the public. Speaking exclusively to Kildare Now, the child’s mother, who doesn't want to be identified, said she was so distraught that she couldn’t sleep last night. She said that immediately after the incident her daughter ran into the school and told her teacher what had happened. The distraught mother said she has visited the school today to meet with the principal and vice principal. St Brigid's School,  which has almost 1,000 pupils, has not responded to requests for a comment at this point. Sources said that witnesses to the alleged incident have yet come forward. A source said: "The complaint is that the girl was in a line going back into her classroom when she innocently put her hands through the school railing and the incident happened." The school yard where the alleged incident took place accommodates 4th, 5th and 6th classes.