Gardaí in south Dublin are searching for a man suspected of sexually assaulting more than 10 women in the vicinity of Marlay Park, Rathfarnham. The victims, predominantly aged between their late-teens to early 20s, gave a similar description and age of their attacker.
The assaults were committed mostly during daylight hours, near but not in the park. Gardaí said the suspect was aged 30 to 40 years, about 5ft 9in in height and of stocky build.
Most of the assaults took the form of molestation, and were categorised as "minor to more serious" sexual assaults, said gardaí. The assaults did not include rape.
Garda patrols aimed at catching the assailant were set up after the assaults began in early January.
However, the location of the assaults has varied, making the Garda's task more difficult.
One Garda source said detectives were anxious not to spark undue fears. "We're talking about up to a dozen attacks from minor abuse, or lewd remarks, to grabbing people at various parts of the anatomy and tearing clothing off. We are not talking about kidnapping."
Gardaí said none of the women got a good view of the assailant.
It is understood one of the incidents took place as recently as last week when a woman was accosted as she returned to her car after a walk in the park. None of the assaults were said to have taken place at night.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detective Unit at Rathfarnham Garda Station (01-666 6500).
Gardaí in Dundrum, meanwhile, are continuing to search for a man suspected of a serious sexual assault on a young mother at her home last week. Fearing he may strike again, detectives have issued an artist's impression of the suspect and a description.
A Garda spokesman stressed yesterday that no connection had been made between the incident and the assaults in neighbouring Rathfarnham.
The man who committed the sexual assault in Dundrum at around noon on Monday, March 31st last came to the woman's home pretending to be a cable television technician. He forced his way into the house and bound the woman with plastic ties before sexually assaulting her while threatening her with a knife.
The assailant was approximately 40, around 5ft 8in and of average to slim build.
He had a full head of dark, wavy hair, going grey, and was unkempt looking. He had a slight moustache.
He was wearing a light coloured, possibly beige, short zip-style jacket, a plain blue shirt, a lilac tie, navy slacks and dark shoes.
He was also wearing dark-blue, extremely large, ill-fitting round glasses, which gardaí believe may have been used as a disguise.
Anyone with information can contact Dundrum Garda station at 01-666 5611 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666111.
