A granny in Co Wexford, Ann Roche is being heralded as a hero after she intervened and managed to stop am attempted abduction of her granddaughter Hollie.
A man tried to grab young Hollie as she was playing in her front garden and the young girl started screaming.
Anne heard Hollie screaming and ran out to see what was wrong.
Anne told the Mirror: “‘I heard her crying and screaming and thought maybe she had hurt herself badly.
“But when I got out I could see a man holding on to her and he would not let go.”
After shouting at the thug to put Hollie down, he threw the little girl to the ground and ran off on foot, jumping over a wall at the end of the garden in St Moling’s Terrace, Camolin.
Ann continued: “I grabbed her and ran inside and locked all the doors.
“We were so afraid and in shock but our main concern was trying to calm Hollie down.”
The man has been escribed as being in his 40s, overweight, with black hair and wearing a red jumper.
Anne immediately rang the gardai who have sent the description out of the man.
“The way the house is built we have the kitchen at the back and her [Hollie’s] mother was there washing dishes after dinner so I was the only one to hear her.
“I am just glad she was screaming – we are very thankful she is still here with us.”
Anne said: “She was afraid to even talk to the guards – she just kept saying, ‘He was going to take me’ to them.
“I described what I saw to them – it is a face I will never forget.
“Every time I close my eyes I can see him holding onto my granddaughter.”
The message to parents and grandparents is clear – be extremely careful and vigilant at all times and share the information to raise awareness of this man and of the situation that can occur.