Teenager raped on way home may have known her attacker

GARDAÍ investigating the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Waterford believe she may have known her attacker.

They are investigating the possibility that he may have travelled on the same bus as the teenager as she returned home from a party in Tramore.

The teenager was attacked as she walked along a passageway in the John’s River area close to the Superquinn supermarket in the early hours of yesterday morning. The location of the attack is less than two minutes’ walk from the bus stop.

The girl had returned to Waterford at 11.55am on a Bus Éireann bus. It is believed the teenager was with a friend but they became separated as they walked along a short-cut near Cherrymount Estate.

She was walking along the badly lit path when she was grabbed from behind by her attacker. Gardaí believe he may have followed her from the bus.

The girl raised the alarm from a house in Cherrymount shortly after 12.45am. Investigating superintendent, Dave Sheahan, appealed for witnesses or anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to come forward.

Gardaí yesterday carried out house to house inquiries in the area. A forensic team also searched undergrowth near the Cherrymount Estate.

“This woman was walking up a passageway which leads into Cherrymount when she was attacked. She was raped near there.

“We would like to hear from anyone who was on that bus to come forward and give us vital information about other people who were on that bus.

“It was a Bus Éireann bus. It left Tramore, arriving close to Superquinn at around 12.15am. The victim has received medical attention and a full investigation has been launched.”

Gardaí do not yet have a concrete description of the attacker. The victim of the attack is said to be very distressed. “We are treating this with the seriousness it deserves. It is most unusual for this thing to happen in Waterford and we want to get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible.

“We are very anxious to speak to anyone who may have been in the area at the time,” he said.

Gardaí investigating the assault can be contacted on [phone].