DETECTIVES IN the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division were involved in a major hunt yesterday for a cross-Border gang that hijacked a 4x4 near a farmhouse at Annyalla near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan and subjected a teenage girl to a terrifying ordeal before dragging her from the vehicle and throwing her onto the roadway.
The hijack took place after the driver left the vehicle to enter a nearby house, leaving the teenager in the passenger seat. According to gardaí, three men in a dark-coloured car which was previously seen parked on a nearby road drove up beside the 4x4. One of them jumped out, got into the vehicle and started it up.
When the frightened teenager refused to get out, the hijacker drove behind the car for a short distance, before stopping and dragging the screaming teenager from the 4x4, throwing her onto the road. Apart from being severely shocked, the unnamed girl, who is from the area, was uninjured.
Gardaí at Monaghan contacted the PSNI in Armagh after the hijack. It was reported the stolen 4x4 was driven in the direction of Keady in South Armagh. Gardaí yesterday launched house-to-house inquiries in the Annyalla area to try to get a full description of the hijackers and the car used.
A Garda spokesman said: “The hijackers appeared to be waiting for the four-wheel vehicle to turn up at the house, before they struck. It was obvious this was the type of vehicle they were seeking, as there were other cars parked in the area, any of which could also have been easily taken.”
Last month, a number of 4x4s were reported stolen in the Cavan area. Gardaí believe they may have been taken northwards for export to Britain, or the Continent, with false plates. Owners of such vehicles in the area were warned to step up security to prevent theft.