The thought to be missing Australian Samantha Azzopardi. SHE was found wandering alone and confused. Irish police thought she was an Eastern European teenage sex slave. But 25-year-old Australian Samantha Azzopardi had already been arrested for welfare fraud. The Independent newspaper in Ireland has reported Azzopardi had received a suspended prison sentence for illegally attempting to draw social welfare benefits she was not entitled to. Irish police failed to notice the link, and have not explained how they could believe the 25-year-old woman - found wandering in a distressed and disorientated state in Dublin city centre - could have been aged less than 15. A court was approached under the Child Care Act act to allow the release of pictures of the "under-age" girl in an effort to identify her. However, Samantha Azzopardi was virtually unable to communicate when she was found in Dublin almost a month ago. It is just the latest embarrassment facing Irish police who seized two Roma children from their biological families on no basis other than the fact they had blonde hair. A man, who is not believed to be a relative, called police last night to let them know that their mystery girl had family in Tipperary, the Irish Independent reported. According to The Dublin Evening Herald, a member of Azzopardi's family has since been in touch with the police. The Irish Mirror reported that the womans parents were flying to Ireland to see their daughter - and stated that there was no clear record of how Samantha had entered the country. The breakthrough came just hours after Irish police released photographs of the young woman. It is understood Azzopardi originated from Campbelltown, New South Wales, was known to Australian Police, had a history of mental health isssues, and is believed to have used up to 40 aliases. Irish police, however, have now played down suggestions she was caught up in trafficking. According to a report in the Dublin Evening Herald the man who called police was able to identify her and supply them with details of the family. He contacted detectives at Store Streets Garda (Police) Station, Dublin after photographs of her were released to the media. It is now understood that Samantha entered Ireland Via the UK in order to live with relatives. She is believed to have been staying in the Irish Midlands town of Clonmel in County Tipperary, over 170km away from where she was found on Dublin's O'Connell Street on October 10th. The Irish National Police Service said they were still liaising with Australian police to "establish everything. They weren't willing to comment on media reports the woman is from Queensland or New South Wales, and may have been known to the state's police. A Queensland Police spokesperson said they were not in a position to confirm whether Samantha Azzopardi was from Queensland as the investigation was in the hands of the Australian Federal Police. An Australian Federal Police spokesperson it was not appropriate for them to comment on an ongoing investigation. Meanwhile Samantha remains in the care of the HSE who describe her as "vulnerable" and say she would be at serious risk if left at large. Psychiatrists who have examined her are seeking input from Australian counterparts