Gardai investigating the sexual assault of a woman motorist by a hitch-hiker in the midlands last Friday have renewed their appeal for information. A photo-fit of the suspect has been issued.
Gardai are anxious to hear from anyone who may have given a lift to the man or anyone who was in the Grill Inn in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, which the assailant visited just before lunchtime.
The assault occurred after the victim stopped to give the man a lift at the roundabout in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, at about 11.45 a.m. They travelled along the main Dublin road through Dromad and Rooskey to the townland of Clooniher, on the Longford side of Cloonart Bridge, where the hitch-hiker said he wanted to visit his sister, living down a side road. The woman was sexually assaulted after she stopped the car in a gateway.
The man fled the scene and got a lift with an unsuspecting motorist to Longford. He got out of the car at traffic lights in the town and made his way on foot to a taxi rank at Ballymahon Street. At about 12.40 p.m. he got a taxi to Edgeworthstown, where he called briefly to the Grill Inn. He left the pub at about 12.50 p.m. or 1 p.m. and was last seen walking up the left-hand side of the town's main road in the Dublin direction.
The suspect is described as aged 35 to 40 years old, 5 1011["] tall, of slim build, with brown hair, going grey, and a full beard, also going grey. He was wearing light blue or stone-washed jeans and white runners.
He was carrying a black rucksack and was wearing a blue body warmer or sleeveless jacket, which were discarded at the scene of the assault. During the assault, petrol was spilled on the suspect's clothing and witnesses have reported a distinct smell of petrol from him. Anyone with information is asked to contact Carrick-on-Shannon Station at (078) 20021, or Longford Station at (043) 46741.
