Sex attacker may strike again, warn gardaí

GARDAÍ fear the man who sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl after luring her into a secluded playground may strike again.

“It is imperative that this man is caught and caught soon. We believe he has the capacity to strike again,” a senior garda warned last night.

The girl was assaulted in the Douglas Street area of Cork city on Sunday morning. She was walking along the street at around 10.30am when she was approached by a man.

He told her he was looking for a stray dog and asked if she would help.

He led her away to a little park off Douglas Street, known as Páirc Eoin, where he assaulted her.

Gardaí believe the man may have left the area in a taxi around 11.15am.

The distraught girl told her mother later what had happened and gardaí were alerted.

A garda spokesman appealed to the public last night, and in particular to hackney or taxi drivers, for assistance.

The man is in his late 30s, around 5’ 10’’, of stocky build with short brown hair.

He was wearing blue jeans and a grey or green jacket.

“We are anxious to speak to any taxi or hackney driver who may have picked up a fare in that general area between 11am and 11.30am,” a garda spokesman said.

“We also want to speak to any member of the public who may have seen this man acting suspiciously in the area.”

The scene was forensically examined and gardaí are examining CCTV footage from the area.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the gardaí at Anglesea Street on 021-452 2000.

Meanwhile, in a separate investigation, gardaí are still looking for a paedophile who absconded two weeks ago before sentencing at Cork Circuit Court. The 36-year-old man was found guilty of sexually assaulting seven boys in Cork city between 1992 and 1994.

The man has not been seen since he drew his dole at the city’s welfare office on Monday, February 7.