Gardaí investigating an alleged attempted assault in Dungarvan recently have arrested a woman.
The incident was reported to have happened in the town in the early hours of Sunday the 19th of February and it was alleged on social media that a number of foreign national males were involved.
In a statement to WLR's Déise Today, a Garda spokesperson says a female was detained as part of that investigation and subsequently released with a file being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
She was arrested under Section 12 of the Criminal Law Act, 1976, which relates specifically to someone who either "knowingly makes a false report or statement tending to show that an offence has been committed" or "knowingly makes a false report or statement tending to show that [they have] information material to any inquiries by the Garda Síochána and thereby causes the time of the Garda Síochána to be wastefully employed."
The initial post on social media - which was widely shared - claimed that a resident in a property nearby the scene of the incident heard the screams of the alleged victim and intervened.
Another incident of a similar nature was subsequently alleged to have happened just over a week later.
However, Gardaí in Dungarvan say they are not investigating any other alleged assaults at this time, nor are they aware of any alleged spate of attacks by foreign nationals, as suggested.
While the spokesperson clarified that Gardaí will not comment on third party material posted online, they say they are "acutely aware of the significant volume of misinformation, disinformation and fake news in circulation in relation to public safety."
Following these social media reports indicating an increase in violent incidents in Dungarvan, a 'Dungarvan Safety Patrol' group was established by concerned locals, who were planning on patrolling the streets themselves.
In today's statement to WLR, Gardaí are reminding people that, under section 7 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, "An Garda Síochána is the sole agency invested with the statutory role of preserving peace and public order."
There are a number of initiatives designed to facilitate engagement between Gardaí and local communities, including Community Alert, Neighbourhood Watch, Community Text Alert, and 'See Something, Say Something.'
Anyone with information relating to any crime is being urged to report it immediately to An Garda Síochána.
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