Gardaí in Galway are appealing for help from the public after a young woman was raped and seriously assaulted in the city on Thursday night, writes Lorna Siggins, in Galway
The 21-year-old woman, a third-level student from Co Donegal, was returning home along a walkway linking Lough Atalia with the Galway-Dublin road when the assault took place at about 10.30 p.m.
The woman was beaten and then raped behind commercial buildings. Gardaí at Mill Street station in Galway believe the woman risked losing her life if she had not put up a fight. She was taken for medical treatment to University College Hospital, Galway and afterwards made a statement to gardaí.
A Garda spokesman said the attacker was described as a white male in his late 30s to 50s, and wearing dark clothing with a zip jacket, woollen hat and blue jeans. The man may have had scratches on his face and grass stains on his clothes as it was a very wet night, the spokesman said.
An incident room has been set up at Mill Street station and questionnaires distributed in the area. Gardaí are anxious to talk to anyone who may have been in the area, behind the Huntsman Bar, between 9 p.m. and midnight on Thursday, and the incident room can be contacted at 091-538000.
