A child rescue alert has been issued for a 14-year-old girl who went missing three days ago from County Louth.
Gardaí said in a statement the alert was triggered due to concerns there is an “immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare” of Svetlana Murphy.
The teenager left her home on Coast Road, Blackrock, County Louth, about 4pm on Monday in the company of 18-year-old Nojus Maculevicius, the statement added.
The pair, who are travelling in a silver Hyundai Veloster car with registration number 132-D-13518, were seen in Newry, Co Down, about 7pm that evening.
The vehicle was spotted in the greater Belfast area at 5.35pm yesterday.
Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty said Svetlana was reported missing by her father on Monday and gardai now have "serious concerns that there is an immediate and serious risk" to her health and welfare.
"Svetlana has not been in contact with her family since she was reported as missing on Monday afternoon and we have serious concerns for her welfare at this stage," Garda Superintendent Geraghty told RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne programme.
He did not divulge why gardai are concerned.
"Our concern at the moment is to speak with Svetlana or Nojus," he added.
"We need to know that Svetlana is safe and well today. We need to find Svetlana today and return her to her family."
Svetlana is described as 5 foot 1 inch in height with a slim build, and has brown hair and brown eyes.
At the time she went missing, she was wearing navy tracksuit bottoms with a red and white stripe on the leg, a black zipped top and black runners.
Mr Maculevicius is described as being 6 foot in height with a slim build, and has dark brown hair and is clean shaven.
He was wearing dark grey Snickers work trousers and a black Snickers top. He may also have been wearing a khaki green hoody, and either black boots or Adidas runners.
Gardaí have urged those who see the pair not to approach them and instead immediately dial 999 or 112 or the nearest Garda Station providing as much information as possible.
