Seven held in sex abuse investigation

Seven people have been arrested in connection with a Garda investigation into an alleged serious sexual assault of a young girl.

The five men and two women were arrested this morning as part of an ongoing investigation, gardaí said.

It is understood the investigation was initiated after the child was taken into State care last year over concerns of neglect.

The abuse, which ranged from serious sexual assault to rape, is thought to have occurred in south Dublin.

The arrests occurred early this morning in Dublin and Wexford. The two women are aged in their 40s and the five men range in age from 19 years to 47 years.

They are currently being detained in a number of stations in the south Dublin area, under Section 4 Criminal Justice Act, 1984, and can be held for up to 24 hours.