Media have been warned by the gardaí not to try to establish the identity of a schoolgirl whose sexually-graphic image was circulated on mobile phones last week.
A Garda statement today confirmed they identified the girl a number of days ago but are refusing to release any further details.
"The investigation is being handled with the highest degree of sensitivity and the Gardaí have no intention of identifying either this girl or indeed the school she attends.
"Gardaí are aware that some elements of the media are taking steps to establish her identity, which may be counter productive to the investigation and detrimental to the welfare of this young girl."
The sexually explicit image is of a girl wearing a school uniform and Gardaí have used specialist photo equipment is establishing the crest on the girls jumper.
Mobile phone operators assisted gardaí in attempting to track the source of the image which first surfaced in the south of the country last week.