Northern Ireland

Missing Co Louth teen found safe and well in Belfast

Missing teenager Svetlana Murphy left her home on the Coast Road in Blackrock at around 4pm on Monday.
Missing teenager Svetlana Murphy left her home on the Coast Road in Blackrock at around 4pm on Monday.

A 14-year-old girl missing from Co Louth has been found safe and well in Belfast tonight.

Svetlana Murphy was found along with 18-year-old Nojus Maculevicius.

Mr Maculevicius was arrested. He remains in police custody.

Svetlana was expected to be reunited with her family tonight.

An Ireland-wide alert was issued after Svetlana went missing amid "serious concerns that there is an immediate and serious risk" to her health or welfare.

The teenager left her home on the Coast Road in Blackrock at around 4pm on Monday.

Gardaí subsequently issued a Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) Alert.

Both Svetlana and Nojus were travelling in a silver Hyundai Veloster car, with registration number 132-D-13518.

Gardaí are satisfied that the pair travelled from Blackrock in Co Louth to Newry in Co Down on Monday where they were sighted at around 7pm.

The Hyundai Veloster car was then seen in the Greater Belfast area at around 5.35pm on Wednesday.