Gardai in Cork are investigating the rape of a young woman in the city centre as she returned home from work in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The woman, who is in her early 20s, was set upon by the assailant as she walked down Patrick Street at 5.30 a.m.
The man approached her from behind, grabbed her and dragged her down William Street, a narrow and deserted side street beside Dunnes Stores leading towards Emmet Place.
The woman tried to fight off her attacker, but he proved too strong and bundled her into a dark doorway and raped her.
She suffered some cuts and bruising to her head in the struggle.
The man left on foot in the direction of Drawbridge Street, leaving the woman to make her way back to Patrick Street where she raised the alarm.
A taxi-driver brought her to a Garda station where she gave gardai an initial description before being taken for treatment to Cork University Hospital.
Gardai later interviewed the woman and obtained a more detailed description before she was discharged from hospital.
The man has been described as in his 20s and about 5 7["] to 5 9["] in height.
He was wearing a dark wind-cheater or track suit top with three stripes along the sleeves.
The scene of the rape in William Street was sealed off and Garda technical experts later began a forensic examination of the area and gathered samples for analysis.
Gardai have appealed to anyone who may have been in the Patrick Street area between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. to contact them. They are particularly anxious to talk to anyone who may have seen anyone behaving suspiciously in the area at the time.
They have also urged anyone who may think they know the rapist or noticed anyone with soiled or blood-stained clothing to contact them in confidence at Anglesea Street on (021) 522090.