Police investigate death of man washed up on beach

GARDAÍ are investigating the death of a young man whose body was washed up on a beach in Donegal yesterday.

Detectives in the area are continuing their hunt for a man who allegedly raped a teenage girl at a popular holiday resort in the county.

The body of Gavin Toye, 20, from Umlagh, Carrigart, was found on Killyhoey beach, Dunfanaghy, yesterday.

Tourists out jogging came across his body floating on the tide at 7.30am and alerted gardaí. The body was taken to the morgue at Letterkenny General Hospital.

A post-mortem will be carried by State Pathologist Prof John Harbison later today.

Inspector Greg Sullivan of Milford Station said: “We’re at the early stages of the investigation. There’s nothing to indicate the cause of death. We are keeping an open mind and will be guided by the results of the post-mortem.”

He said there were no reports that the man had been missing.

“The family didn’t suspect anything untoward. He was last seen by a member of the family who had been with him on Monday evening.”

Meanwhile, gardaí at Milford are continuing their investigations in relation to the rape of a 16-year-old girl at the holiday resort of Portsalon, in the Fanad peninsula. Gardaí said the girl was walking alone when she was set upon by a lone male at around 1am on Saturday.

The victim was able to give gardaí a very good description of the attacker. He’s aged 17-19, 5ft 9in, is of stocky build with broad shoulders, possibly has freckles and has a large dimple on his left check.

His head was shaven and he had a small thin beard along the line of his chin bone.

He was wearing a dark-coloured tracksuit, a heavy gold chain around his neck, white runners, smoked and had a Northern accent, possibly Derry. “This is an horrendous crime against an innocent girl and we would appreciate any help from the public.” The station can be contacted at 074-53114.

Gardaí in Mayo are trying to track down a man who raped a woman in her bedroom. The attacker gained access to the woman’s home in Castlebar through an upstairs window.

She was subjected to an ordeal lasting up to three hours in the early hours of August 6. The attacker is described as being about 6ft and in his mid-30s to mid-40s.

Gardaí believe he was in the Barrack Bridge to the Kingsbridge junction area of the town prior to 2am and after 4am on August 6. Anyone with information can ring 094-38200.

In the North yesterday a 14-year-old boy was charged at a Co Antrim court with the rape of a 14-year-old girl on Monday.

The boy is accused of entering the girl’s caravan in Slivercliffs holiday village, near Ballycastle, Co Antrim, and raping her.