Gardai have spoken to the relatives of a group of men they believe may have been involved in a horror sex attack on three teenage girls.
The three teenagers, all from Dublin, were in Courtown, Co Wexford on holiday last weekend.
Sources have now told Dublin Live that the children, two aged 14 and one aged 16, had been socialising on the pier in Courtown Village.
A source said: "There is CCTV that shows the girls walking with a group of young men who were also staying in the village.
"They walked from the pier to the Burrow road, which runs parallel to the beach.
"At some point along this road the girl were assaulted - they were beaten and sexually assaulted.
"Enquiries are focusing on the actions of a number of men."
It is believed these men left Courtown shortly after the incident and went to Kilkenny.
Gardai have spoken their relatives - no arrests have been made. There are now other parts of the investigation that will be needed including results of forensic examinations.
Local Councillor Joe Sullivan said that locals are in deep shock at the horror attack.
He said: "Local people are horrified by this incident. It is not the type of crime we are familiar with at all in this area.
"We certainly don't want happening in the area and we have huge sympathy for the victims of this incident.
"There is very little known locally here but the gardai will not be saying an awful lot about it due to the sensitive nature of it."
Councillor Sullivan has sought to reassure holidaymakers to come to the village, saying that it is an isolated incident.
He added: "I wold say to people considering coming to Courtown to holiday to come on. This is a once off and hopefully we will not be seeing a repeat of this in the future.
"I would have to appeal to anyone who was in the area between 10pm on Saturday and 2am on Sunday morning that may have the slightest, small piece of information to bring it to the gardai.
"All information will accrue towards the compilation of the evidence that the gardai know if they are to bring this incident to a successful conclusion which I will hope will be down the line."
A garda spokesman has refused to discuss any details of what happened but continued to ask people for help.
The spokesman said: "Gardaí are continuing to appeal for information in relation to the investigation into an incident of a serious assault that occurred on 28/07/19 at approximately 12:15am in the Burrow area of Courtown Harbour, Gorey, Co. Wexford.
"The three injured parties involved in this incident are currently in the process of being interviewed by a team of specially trained interviewers. The scene has been examined and is now re-opened.
"An incident room has been established at Gorey Garda station. Gardaí would like to thank all witnesses that have already come forward to provide witness statements. Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information and who has not yet come forward to please contact Gorey Garda Station on 053 943 0690 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111."
