Police in New Zealand are continuing a search for the two-year-old daughter of an Irish man who has been missing since Monday.
Aisling Symes was with her parents, Alan and Angela, who were tidying up a property in the Auckland suburb of Henderson, when she disappeared about 5.30pm (5.30am Irish time) on Monday.
About 40 police are involved in the inquiry and have been tracking down known offenders and making house calls as they continue their search.
This morning Auckland police inspector Gary Davey said a very through search of the local vicinity has been completed and police are now “reasonably confident” of Aisling was abducted.
He said police received two reports from neighbours who saw Aisling walking down the road and being approached by an Asian woman walking her dog.
Mr Davey said: “It was a very busy time at night, with road traffic, and if anybody had seen a two-year old walking any further distance we are sure that we would have had calls from the public.”
He said it was critical that police find the woman whether or not she was involved in the disappearance, but cautioned people not to take the law into their own hands.
The woman police are seeking is thought to be about 35, with dark, shoulder-length hair. She was walking a black and grey dog at the time witnesses say they saw her.
Mr Davey said a woman who fitted the description was targeted by a group of people on Wednesday and has been left traumatised by their actions.
He said people should contact police rather than make approaches themselves.
Aislings father Mr Symes told a news conference yesterday that: “These recent days have proven to be the most harrowing of our lives. [We’ve had] no sleep and we feel like we’re barely existing, [just] surviving every moment, not knowing where Aisling is.”
Angela Symes was said to be too distraught to speak at the briefing. Mr Symes had his arm round her at all times. He pleaded for their daughter’s safe return.
“Aisling is our two-year-old daughter, sister to Caitlin, a cousin and a beloved niece and granddaughter. We want her back. So please, if you have any information, any at all, please come forward,” he said.
