GARDAÍ BELIEVE two women who were badly beaten and choked in random street attacks before one of them was raped were the victims of the same man.
Forensic evidence found during the investigations into the attacks, both in Dublin but 12 months apart, suggests one attacker was involved.
A high-profile public appeal, headed by Supt Jim Hynes of the Bridewell Garda station, has been launched to identify a key person of interest in each of the cases. “I can say definitively that there is a forensic link between these two attacks,” Supt Hynes said.
He added that the level and nature of the violence used was also similar, as was the time of the attacks and the physical appearance of the victims. CCTV images captured on the streets close to the attacks have been circulated to the media as part of what gardaí are calling an “advanced stage” of the investigation.
The most recent incident occurred in the early hours of September 11th last, in Clondalkin, Dublin. The victim had been socialising in Clondalkin village and was walking to her home on the Monastery Estate between 3am and 4am when she was attacked.
She left her friends not far from her destination and soon after was passed by a man who walked from behind her. She said “goodnight” to the man.
Moments later she was attacked from behind by a man who grabbed her and pushed her to the ground. He then placed his hand over her mouth and began choking her. The victim vigorously fought off her attacker, scraping his face and biting the flesh between his thumb and index finger. The attacker continued to repeatedly punch the woman in the face but he then stopped suddenly and ran off in the direction of Monastery Road.
In the other case linked to the same suspect, the attacker succeeded in overpowering his victim and raped her. That incident occurred in the early hours of September 18th, 2010, at the Chandler Apartment Complex on Arran Quay on the north side of Dublin city centre.
The victim went into the grounds of the apartment block at about 3am after a night socialising. She was followed by a man who knocked her to the ground and punched and kicked her in the face and body.
The woman was conscious throughout, and when her attacker had raped her he escaped by climbing over the gate on to Lincoln Lane.
The suspect for that attack is described as being in his late 20s and being about 6 ft in height. He had light brown hair which was possibly shaved. He was of fair complexion and normal build.
The victim told gardaí her attacker also had a piercing over either his left or right eyebrow, with a silver ring inserted. He was wearing a dark jacket, which was possibly leather, as well as light coloured jeans and dark footwear.
In the most recent case, which occurred in Clondalkin, gardaí are anxious to speak to the man the victim met on the street moments before she was attacked in what gardaí believe was an attempted rape. They believe he has vital information about the attack.
That man is 5ft 10in to 6ft 1in in height and about 23 to 27. He was fair-haired, had a good physique, spoke with a foreign accent, and wore “boot-cut” jeans and a distinctive jacket.
The jacket is described as being electric blue with white elasticised cuffs, collars and waistband. It had a white zip up the front and the word Italia in white on the back. Anybody with information is asked to contact gardaí on 01-6668200.
