Gardai are investigating whether an attack on a five-year-old girl by three young boys could have been a "copycat" incident.
Officers will also investigate if the boys involved, aged seven, eight and 10, were influenced by violent material online.
The little girl was allegedly beaten with sticks after being "lured" to an abandoned house by the boys.
It's also alleged they attempted to sexually assault her in a shead before she managed to get away and raise the alarm.
The disturbing attack happened two weeks ago in the northeast.
A source told The Irish Independent that investigations were ongoing but the boys would not face charges due to their age.
They said: "Everything is being looked at by specialist gardai in the local Divisional Protective Services Unit in that area – this includes whether the boys in question may have been influenced by online material or information they observed in the general media."
"The issue of whether what happened is a so called ‘copycat crime’ is being looked at but it is not clear at this stage."
They added: "What is clear is that the three boys are children and they are all under the age of criminal responsibility, which means there will never be a prosecution in the case.
"Yes this is a very, very sensitive investigation but it has to be noted that the female child only suffered minor injuries when she was hit by sticks in the shed of that house.
"While there were attempts at what is best described as inappropriate touching in this situation, the child was not sexually assaulted before she got out of the situation", the source concluded.
The case has been referred to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency who are being asked to investigate if there is a child protection issue and whether a child is at risk.
Detectives are expected to conduct specialist interviews with all four children involved.
There are no plans for arrests and sources say the case will be dealt with in a "highly sensitive" way.
