THE SIX-YEAR Irish girl who went missing from her home in Cyprus this week has been brought to Syria by her father.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs has told TheJournal.ie that it is continuing to provide consular assistance to the family of May Assad Monaghan, who is originally from Swords in Co. Dublin.

The spokesperson has said that while the department cannot comment on the child’s whereabouts, it is liaising with the embassy in Cairo, through which it is in contact with Syrian authorities.

The Irish Independent reports today that May was taken by her father to Syria after he failed to return her to her mother’s care on Wednesday. Her mother Louise Monaghan is from Swords but lives and works in Limassol in Cyprus. She is divorced from May’s father.

Speaking yesterday to RTÉ’ Radio One’s John Murray Show, Louise’s sister and May’s aunt Mandy said that she was contacted by Louise on Wednesday who told her that her daughter was missing.

The child’s father then contacted Louise Monaghan and told her that he was on his way to Syria with his daughter.

Her former husband has told her that she must sell everything she has and travel to Syria to live a Muslim life with him and their daughter. May was due to start at a Catholic School in Cyprus this week.