Man wrongly named as perpetrator of Dublin stabbings getting Garda security advice

Two girls aged 6 and 5, and a five-year-old boy as well as creche worker Leanne Flynn, who is in her 30s, were all stabbed.

Two children have since been discharged from hospital while Ms Flynn is in a serious but stable condition at the Mater hospital.

The five-year-old girl remains in a critical condition in CHI Temple Street where her family are keeping a vigil.

The man was wrongly named across social media on Thursday following the anonymised publication of details surrounding his asylum application by the news website Gript.

The site has since posted a statement which says that it is investigating the error while also claiming that consideration is being given to whether it was "deliberately deceived by a senior justice official". It said if that is the case, the site would no longer have responsibility to protect the anonymity of its sources.

Following the publication of the article, the name and photograph of a man unrelated to the investigation into the stabbing of three children and their carer last week was circulated on social media.

Garda sources on Thursday confirmed that the wrongly named man is receiving security advice and will likely receive Garda protection over the coming days.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said that media organisations and the public at large need to be responsible about what they share in relation to the case.

"I think each and every one of us should take responsibility for any content we share or pass. There has been a lot of misinformation spread since last Thursday on a lot of different platforms and that can be hugely upsetting to victims.

"So I would ask people to think before you share, particularly where information might be part of an investigation. So we appreciate there is an ongoing investigation into the awful stabbings last week. I don't want to go much further but yes, particular information was taken down and I think that was appropriate."