A 16-year-old girl could face criminal charges after she misled Gardaí with a false report of a kidnapping in Wexford Town. Her claim that two masked men had kidnapped 15-year-old Sait Canbullu eventually led to the issuing of a costly Child Rescue Alert.
The operation behind the nationwide CRI alert reportedly cost An Garda Síochána over €100,000, as it involved search helicopters and the mobilisation of over 100 officers. Gardaí also put airports and ferry ports on alert amid fears that his kidnappers would attempt to smuggle him out of the country.
Gardaí decided to proceed with the alert despite having doubts about the girl’s story. According to one source, her initial report contained several “inconsistencies.”
Gardaí became suspicious of her story when CCTV footage from the area failed to support it.
On Sunday morning, Gardaí called off the CRI after a spokesperson for the force announced that officers no longer believed Canbullu had been kidnapped. Later that day, the missing teenager was found safe and well in County Sligo.
It is now believed that the girl could face criminal charges for knowingly providing Gardaí with a false report.