A woman found in some distress in Ireland a month ago has been identified as being Australian. Source: AAP
THE woman at the centre of a worldwide police appeal after being found in a Dublin street confused and virtually unable to communicate is believed to be Australian but police have yet to confirm her identity.
The blonde woman, who spoke little English since being found in Dublin almost a month ago, is in her early 20s and currently in the care of Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE).
It is understood a relative called to a police station in Dublin city on Tuesday after seeing a photograph issued in the appeal. A passport is believed to have confirmed her identity.
It was initially thought the girl was aged only 14 or 15 and European but after a photograph of her was released worldwide detectives in Ireland had identified her and were liaising with Australian police.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed they had received a request for assistance from Irish authorities but say because the matter is ongoing, it is not appropriate for them to comment further.
The Irish National Police Service were still liaising with Australian police to "establish everything", a spokesman told AAP on Wednesday.
They weren't willing to comment on media reports the woman is from Queensland and may have been known to the state's police.
"It's not appropriate for me to comment about another police force in another jurisdiction," the spokesman said.
The unprecedented step to release the picture was given the go-ahead after Irish police went to the High Court in Dublin and explained several weeks of investigation and 115 separate lines of inquiry had turned up no leads.
Lawyers who successfully argued for the photo to be released said it was extraordinary circumstances after the investigation "hit a brick wall".
Officers had been unable to get any substantive information from the woman over a period of weeks and she communicated on a number of occasions by drawing.
It is believed a further court hearing will take place following her identification to determine how the investigation will proceed and how the woman will be cared for in the interim.
She was found on Dublin's O'Connell Street - the Irish capital's main shopping thoroughfare - in a distressed state by police on a routine afternoon patrol on October 10.
She was wearing a purple hooded top, tight dark-coloured jeans, flat black shoes and a grey woollen jumper when found.
It is believed the clothes were bought in major Irish retailers but detectives could not determine when they were purchased.
Superintendent Dave Taylor confirmed the girl drew some sketches in an attempt to communicate her ordeal, but investigators have no hard evidence as to what happened her.
Irish journalist Tara Duggan told the ABC: "She did begin communicating with authorities but by drawing pictures and these pictures presented rather disturbing images for Irish authorities.
"Without being to graphic about it, she was depicting images that showed her on a bed surrounded by a number of men and money exchanging hands."
Irish police, however, have played down suggestions she was caught up in trafficking.
"This investigation has involved over 2000 hours, engaging with all the relevant authorities and all the relevant specialists in this area," 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.
They 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 their girl through their inquiries, but they were "fully checked" and led nowhere.
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