Gardaí are investigating the alleged rape of a young woman near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, early yesterday.
The 24-year-old woman was returning home from a night out with friends when she was allegedly attacked and subjected to a serious sexual assault.
According to gardaí, she was socialising with a number of friends in Castleblayney earlier in the night.
Later, she walked alone towards the nearby village of Doohamlet.
Detectives believe the woman was assaulted after a car containing four men coming in the opposite direction stopped and turned around on the roadway. She is believed to have been forced into the vehicle.
Gardaí said she was subjected to a sexual assault which continued for over an hour.
She was left in a dazed condition on the roadway.
Another driver later arrived on the scene and brought the woman, who was in a distressed state, to the nearby town of Ballybay, where she reported the incident.
The woman also received medical attention.
Gardaí said yesterday they were anxious to hear from anyone who travelled the Castleblayney to Doohamlet road between 12.30am and 3.30am.
They were also interested in hearing from anyone who may have seen the woman on the roadway or a red car which was seen in the area around 3am.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Castleblayney Garda station at 042- 9740668 or any station.
Gardaí also want to contact the occupants of a car which assisted her by taking her to Ballybay, where she raised the alarm.