Manhunt for sex attackers
Young girl attacked in broad daylight in Ardfert
Wednesday March 03 2010
A SEX attack on a young teenage girl in broad daylight in Ardfert at the weekend is under a full investigation by gardaí this week. The attack occured early Sunday afternoon near the grounds of the Cathedral as the girl was walking alone. Gardaí say they are pursuing several lines of inquiry at present in their hunt for the perpetrator(s), but have not yet interviewed anyone in connection with the attack.
The girl, who is understood to be recovering from her ordeal this week without serious injury, was taken to the sexual assault treatment unit at Cork University Hospital following the incident.
Gardaí confirmed that a full scale sex-assault investigation has been launched, but that no one has been formally interviewed in connection with the attack as of yet. "We are conducting several lines of inquiry at present and progress is being made," a spokesperson for the gardaí told The Kerryman.
There has been much speculation locally that the girl may have been attacked by more than one man, but gardaí would not comment on whether or not this has become an aspect of their investigation.
People in Ardfert were left in a state of shock and revulsion on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning as news of the attack spread amid a much larger garda presence than usual in the ordinarily quiet village. Few wished to comment on the matter, but a number of locals The Kerryman spoke to said the village was horrified and revolted that such an attack could occur there in broad daylight.
- DÓNAL NOLAN dnolan@kerryman.ie
