People walked by as woman was raped
The victim, an Australian tourist, also claimed that one passer by temporarily interrupted the attack and then walked off leaving her helpless.
The woman, in her 20s, was beaten and raped by a man who had earlier befriended her in a pub in Cork City. The attack is believed to have lasted up to 30 minutes during which time the victim received multiple bruises.
The man leading the investigation, Superintendent Kieran McGann, said it was “a particularly vicious attack” and “the victim had met her attacker in a licensed premises in Washington Street.”
The two later walked towards Cork University College at which point the man dragged the woman inside the campus railings and raped her in front of the Geography Department. The attack took place just four feet from a public footpath which a number of people pass by on.
“While this was going on a number of people were walking past. We know people passed by and somebody partially interrupted the attack,” Superintendent McGann said.
After the attack the woman managed to make her way to a house she was sharing with friends. They took her to the Mercy Hospital and later to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit at the South Infirmary. The victim was then interviewed by the gardaí.
“We are making a special appeal to the person who interrupted the attack to come forward. We realise they probably didn’t realise the seriousness of what was happening at the time,” Superintendent McGann said.
He also said that Gardaí would like to talk to anyone who walked past the Muskerry Service Station or the UCC Geography Department between midnight and 2am yesterday.
“We want to hear from anyone in the area who saw or heard anything suspicious, Superintendent McGann said” he said the attacker was in his mid 20s and wore dark clothing.
Anybody with information is asked to contact the Bridewell Garda Station at 021-4270681.
