An investigation is underway in Waterford after a boy (13) was allegedly coerced into a car by two men in the city on Sunday evening.
The boy had been walking home from the local soccer club when the men reportedly pulled up on the street where he lives, and forced him into the car.
He was driven to a housing estate close to his home and forced to go door-to-door asking residents for sponsorship money.
The alarm was raised by a resident who reported bogus charity collectors to gardaí.
The car was then tracked down and the boy was returned safely to his family.
Gardaí in Waterford say they are aware of the incident and are following a definite line of inquiry, but no arrests have been made at this stage.
The boy's mother 'Fatima' says gardaí told her there have been other similar alleged incidents:
