Gardaí investigating a serious assault on a woman in Co Tipperary over the weekend are looking for information on the movement of two vehicles seen driving dangerously on the evening of the incident.
Scarlett Faulkner remains in a critical condition at Cork University Hospital after sustaining severe head injuries during the attack.
The young mother, who is from Limerick and a member of the Traveller community, was travelling in a car along the R494, the route linking Birdhill with the M7 between Limerick and Nenagh, when it is understood the vehicle was deliberately forced off the road.
She was then pulled from the car and assaulted by two individuals, who were reportedly armed with weapons, one believed to have been an axe.
A number of other people were present during the incident.
The attack happened at around 5.30pm on Saturday evening, on a busy stretch of road serving Birdhill, Ballina, Killaloe and southeast Clare.
Limerick priest Fr Pat Hogan, who is also a chaplain to the Traveller community, said he knows the family well and described Ms Faulkner as a "lovely young lady".
He said her family is "very traumatised and very upset" by what has happened.
"We are shocked by the incident, the violence involved ... we pray that we can have a society without such violence and that we can have a society where our children can grow up without seeing it or having to be part of it or dragged into it," he said.
"Any act of violence that leaves a person in a critical condition in hospital is very serious," he said. "There's no future in violence but in compromise, understanding and patience and forgiveness."
Fr Hogan has met with the Faulkner family who are praying that the young mother recovers from the injuries she sustained in the attack.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family and all the people who are shocked that this thing could happen," he said.
Limerick Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan said people are truly shocked by the "savage assault" of Ms Faulkner.
He said those responsible must be brought to justice and face the full rigours of the law.
Gardaí are seeking information on the movements of two vehicles, a grey 162 Ford Transit van and a blue 161 Volkswagen Touran people carrier.
They are appealing to witnesses who may have seen the vehicles in the Co Tipperary townlands of Cooleen, Crag Cross, Shower Cross, Kylebeg, Annaholty and Thornhill between 4.30pm and 5.30pm on Saturday.
They are asking any road users who were on the R494 on Saturday evening and who may have camera footage or dashcam footage to make it available.
Gardaí say they are aware of video footage of the incident circulating online and are asking members of the public not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead to provide it to investigating gardaí.
