Mystery Dublin girl identified

It took police more than 2,000 hours to identify a girl who turned up "dazed and confused" on a Dublin high street.

"This investigation has involved over 2,000 hours, engaging with all the relevant authorities and all the relevant specialists in this area," Superintendent Dave Taylor said.

The investigation team contacted Interpol, the missing persons bureau, the forensic science laboratory, the domestic violence and sexual assault unit and national immigration authorities.

Officers also trawled city centre CCTV footage, contacted social services and homeless shelters, bed and breakfasts, hostels as well as airports and ports throughout the country.

Detectives initially came up with 15 possible names for her through their inquiries but they were "fully checked" and led nowhere.

An unprecedented police investigation to identify a mystery girl who turned up dazed and confused on a city centre street has been declared a success after the girl was identified.

After the photographs of the girl was released worldwide, detectives in Ireland revealed they have now identified her and are liaising with police in Australia.

The young blonde-haired girl has been at the centre of several weeks of investigation and 115 separate lines of inquiry.

In a statement tonight, Irish police said that with the assistance of the public, they are now following a definite line of inquiry.

"(We) will be liaising closely with the Australian Police and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to finalise the matter," the force said.

Read more: Pictures released in hopes of identifying mystery girl

Police in Dublin have taken the unprecedented step of releasing images of a mystery girl they are trying to identify.

The child, believed to be 14 or 15-years-old, was found by Garda on Dublin's O'Connell Street, the Irish capital's main shopping thoroughfare, in a dazed and confused state last month.

However despite several weeks of investigation - following 115 separate lines of inquiry - detectives remain baffled about the identity of the young blonde-haired teenager.

The girl is believed to be European and is described as being 5ft 6in and of slim build with long blonde hair.

She was wearing a purple hooded top, tight dark-coloured jeans, flat black shoes and a grey woollen jumper when she was found.

A dedicated telephone line and email address is being manned by officers for any information from the public which can help identify the girl.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the team in Dublin on +353 1 666 8100 or by email at storestreetappeal@garda.ie.