Gardaí in Kinsale, Co Cork, are investigating an incident in which a young woman was assaulted while out walking on her own last night.
Gardaí found the 18-year-old woman in a semi-conscious state at Compass Quay in the town after she had rung a friend to say she thought she was being followed.
Her friend contacted gardaí immediately and a search operation was mounted. The woman was found in a semi-conscious state at about 10.30pm.
The victim told gardaí she had been attacked and struck from behind. She was taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment.
The woman was later discharged from hospital and gardaí hope to interview her in more detail today.
Gardaí are satisfied the woman was not robbed but she was taken to the Sexual Assault Unit at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital for examination as a precautionary measure, given the semi-conscious state in which she was found.
Detectives cordoned off the location where she was found and technical experts will today carry out an forensic examination of the scene.
Gardaí have appealed to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Compass Quay area to contact them at Kinsale on (021) 4772302.
