The search for missing Derry teenager Louise Sheils has been extended to the Republic and the authorities now believe her disappearance may have something to do with the internet chat rooms she had been visiting.
The PSNI is growing increasingly concerned for the safety of Ms Sheils (15), who disappeared from her home in Garvagh, Co Derry, on August 3rd.
Det Insp Gary Crawford confirmed last night that the girl may have left home to meet someone she had met online.
"We are concerned because of the chat rooms she was visiting. We have spoken to a couple of people in Britain who she chatted to and eliminated them from our inquiries, but we are anxious to locate another person from Cork who we know she had been in contact with," he said.
"She sent a letter to her mum from Cork and we have an unconfirmed sighting there too. We are growing very, very worried now. A week is a long time for a 15-year-old with very little money and no change of clothes to be away. The longer it goes on, the more vulnerable she is."
The girl is described as slim, 5ft 2in, with long blond hair and blue eyes. She did not take a suitcase with her. When last seen she was wearing a pink baseball cap, navy jogging bottoms, a navy jumper, a grey and purple fleece, and white and blue trainers.
"Louise may have changed her appearance at some stage since she left. I would appeal to her directly that any problems she has at home, if she contacts ourselves or the Garda we will do our best to sort them out," the PSNI inspector said.
Meanwhile, there has been a call for the establishment of a special missing-persons unit to trace the hundreds of people who vanish each year. The task is currently undertaken by gardaí and the information is recorded at Garda headquarters in Dublin.
Fianna Fáil TD Martin Brady said: "We need to have a situation where investigators involved in these cases are experts and can harness the knowledge gained from other national agencies, so there is as swift a response as possible."
(Additional reporting: PA)