A WOMAN AND a teenage girl have been arrested as part of the investigation into the serious assault of a woman in Co Tipperary that left her in critical condition.

Gardaí confirmed this morning that an adult woman in her 40s and a teenage girl were arrested this morning in connection with the incident, which took place on the R494 at Birdhill on Saturday evening.

Both are currently being detained at Garda stations in Co Tipperary.

The victim of the assault, named locally this week as Scarlett Faulkner, remains in a critical condition in Cork University Hospital, where she was taken after being initially airlifted from the scene by a Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter to University Hospital Limerick.

Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward, particularly anyone who was travelling on the R494 between Birdhill and the M7 motorway between 5pm and 6pm on Saturday.

Investigators have also asked road users with dash-cam footage to make it available.

They are especially interested in the movements of two vehicles, a grey 162 Ford Transit van and a blue 161 Volkswagen Touran, which were seen travelling in convoy or driving dangerously in the area on Saturday evening.

The locations of interest include Birdhill village and surrounding townlands such as Cooleen, Crag Cross, Shower Cross, Kylebeg, Annaholty and Thornhill.

Gardaí said they are aware of video footage of the incident circulating online, and have urged the public not to share it on social media or messaging apps.

Instead, they have asked that any such material be provided directly to investigating officers.

“Investigations are ongoing,” a garda spokesperson said.