Police in Northern Ireland believe a fugitive rapist may be living in the Republic.
Gardaí are now assisting the PSNI in the search for Edward Connors (19), who is believed to living somewhere in the Dublin area.
Officers are also also trying to trace the driver of a British-registered black BMW car which they say could help with inquiries.
Connors failed to turn up for a court appearance in Belfast.
He was 15 when he raped an American tourist in Colin Glen forest in west Belfast four years ago. Afterwards he fled to Dublin but later gave himself up. He was jailed for eight years.
An arrest warrant was issued for his arrest last week. He had been due at Belfast Magistrates’ Court to face a charge of breaching one of his probation conditions by failing to complete an individual programme of work to address his sexual offending.
Police in Belfast confirmed today that the Garda is assisting with the hunt.