A man has been arrested in connection with the discovery of the body of a girl (12) in west Dublin.
The girl left her home in the Porterstown area of Dublin 15 late last night, telling family members she would be back soon. Her parents reported her missing early this morning after she failed to return home.
Her partially-clothed body was found by a passerby this afternoon lying in undergrowth along the bank of the Royal Canal near the level crossing at Porterstown Gate.
The area has been sealed off for a forensic examination by the Garda Technical Team.
The cause of death has yet to be established.
The State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy carried out a preliminary examination of the scene this evening. She will conduct a postmortem examination on the girl's body at Blanchardstown hospital tomorrow.
The man (19) was arrested this evening. He is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Blanchardstown Garda station.