A girl of 16 was killed and her 18-year-old friend seriously injured after being sexually and physically attacked by a gang of at least six men, British police revealed tonight.
Mary-Ann Leneghan, whose father is from Co Mayo, died from a stab wound to the neck, while her friend is in hospital after being shot and stabbed in Reading, Berkshire.
Bertie Leneghan looks back at the spot where the body of his daughter Mary-Ann (16) was found in Prospect Park, Tilehurst, Reading. Photograph: Chris Young/PA
The young women suffered "a disgusting ordeal" lasting "several hours" at the hands of up to six attackers in the early hours of Saturday, police said.
They were finally left at a remote spot in Prospect Park in Tilehurst, Reading. The 18-year-old managed to make her way to a nearby road and flag down a passing motorist who rang for help.
Mary-Ann's body was discovered in the park by police at 5.30am. Two days on and detectives have arrested a total of four people, all of whom have been released on bail.
A man in his 20s who was arrested today at a south London address but later released on bail until June 2nd by Thames Valley Police.
As a key witness, the 18-year-old, who cannot be identified, is helping police with their inquiries from her hospital bed where she is in a serious but stable condition. Superintendent Dilip Amin, police area commander for Reading, said it was "very fortunate she was still alive".
He said: "She is very ill from the injuries she has received, but she has been very brave in helping police."
Police believe the two young women may have been deliberately targeted, though they were not able to confirm whether the attackers were known to their victims.
At a press conference held at Reading Police Station tonight, Mr Amin said : "Information we have suggests that this is not a random attack. "We are keeping all our options open as to what the motive was."
A Thames Valley police spokeswoman confirmed that both girls are thought to have been sexually assaulted. She said: "It is believed that they were subjected to a sexual assault."
The pair's ordeal began between 10pm and 11pm on Friday evening when they were approached by a group of men in a car park near a derelict pub in Caroline Street, Reading.
They were taken from a white car to a maroon car, which was parked in Wickes car park on Weldale Street, and arrived at the Abbey Guest House on Connaught Road in the red light district of Reading at 1am.
The vehicle, being driven erratically and at speed with loud music blaring, left the guest house between 3am and 5am. CCTV footage is being scrutinised in an effort to trace the vehicle.
Officers believe that it was at the guest house that the girls were subjected to numerous "horrific and terrifying" assaults. Of the 18-year-old survivor, the police spokeswoman said: "She went through a pretty disgusting ordeal with them.
She added: "They were taken against their will. They were subjected to physical abuse throughout the evening." The 18-year-old girl was undergoing further tests to discover the firearm used to shoot her. The family and friends of Mary-Ann have been laying tributes at the spot where her body was found.
Her father Bertie laid flowers at the scene and her mother Sue also left a floral tribute with a note which read: "Hope you are at peace, my darling. I love you and miss you babe."