Five-year-old boy indecently assaulted

GARDAÍ were last night hunting for a sex attacker after an indecent assault on a five-year-old boy.

The youngster was separated from his friends when the attack took place in Waterford City.

Detectives were conducting house-to-house inquiries and examining CCTV footage in a bid to identify the grey-haired attacker, who was wearing a Manchester United football shirt.

Inspector Tom Duggan said: “Shortly before 7pm yesterday evening this alleged incident was reported at Waterford garda station. It would appear that a group of young boys were playing in a green area in the John’s Park area of the city and one boy was left on his own for a short period of time.

“We believe that some time between five and six o’clock he was approached by a male. He is described as being in his late 40s, he was wearing grey slacks and a red Manchester United jersey and he had greyish hair.

“The boy went home to his mother and obviously was very traumatised as a result of the incident,” Insp Duggan said, adding: “At the moment we are taking it very seriously and we are carrying out a full investigation.”

The incident was the first if its kind for a number of years in Waterford City.

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses, or anyone who believes they may have seen the man, to contact them.