Fears over fate of 39 young asylum seekers who have vanished since 2017  10 hrs ago

10th April 2022

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Thirty-nine unaccompanied children who arrived in Ireland seeking asylum have disappeared without a trace over the past five years and their whereabouts remain unknown, official figures reveal.

Statistics from Tusla, the State’s child and family agency, show 58 separated children seeking asylum between 2017 and 2021 went missing, of whom 39 have not been found.

Gardaí and state agencies have serious concerns about the fate of the children. 

“The real concern is some of these children were trafficked in, told to enter the asylum process, then disappeared from state care and have been forced to work in the sex industry,” a well-placed source said.

“Others are likely working in the black economy and some were likely young adults over 18 pretending to be younger. Some simply ran away and we don’t know what became of them.

“But it truly is shocking and very worrying for child safety that we simply do not know the fate of so many of these children.”

Last year three youths disappeared. In 2019 at total of 19 unaccompanied minors vanished. All remain missing.

All unaccompanied minors who arrive in Ireland are referred to Tusla’s Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP) team. Tusla works closely with other agencies to ensure young people who find themselves in difficult circumstances receive care.

“Upon referral to Tusla’s SCSIP, a child is provided with an intake/best interest assessment which explores his/her identity, family, known health issues, journey to Ireland, significant pre-migration and migratory events and screening for trafficking indicators,” a spokesman said.

“The priority for separated children arriving into Ireland is to place them with their families where possible.

“Where family reunification is not possible, children are placed in a suitable placement which caters for the unique experiences and needs of separated children in Ireland.”

All unaccompanied children seeking asylum are offered support.

Tusla notifies gardaí when unaccompanied minors seeking asylum later disappear from state care.

“They are notified once a child is deemed missing and after Tusla and the child’s carers have made all reasonable efforts to locate the child,” Tusla said.

“The child’s social worker and carers continue to make enquiries with people who may be able to assist with the investigation.”