An internal report by German police describes how women in the western city of Cologne had to run through mobs of drunken men who attacked them during New Year’s celebrations, an experience likened to “running the gauntlet”.

A 34-year-old man who was arrested by detectives investigating a possible link between eight sexual assaults has been released on bail.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) did not report alleged incidents of serious sexual assault at a care home to gardaí, and denied they had ever happened when the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) raised concerns.

There has been a 43% increase in the number of young people reporting rape and sexual assault by teenagers to the CARI helpline over two years.

The country’s specialist charity for child sex abuse victims has seen a 43% rise in the number of assaults on children perpetrated by children.