Sex attacker targets female student on campus

LIMERICK gardaí are investigating an attempted sexual attack on a female student at the University of Limerick campus, the third in the past 10 days.

The latest incident occurred after 10pm on Wednesday night when a woman was attacked near the main entrance to the campus. A man with a shaved head and rough appearance tried to drag the student into bushes.

However, she managed to escape and raised the alarm.

Two similar attacks happened on the night of April 11, when female students were accosted near Milford Grange church. Both managed to escape.

Since then the Students Union at UL has issued warnings to the college’s female students. There has been a huge increase in the number of students carrying personal alarm devices, which the Students Union office is now selling.

Gardaí have met with the college authorities and the Students Union to discuss the attacks.

Gardaí believe that two separate men have been involved in the assaults.

There have been a number of attacks on the 350-acre campus over the past few years involving female students.

A garda spokesman said the force has put extra patrols in the general Plassey area and they have appealed to anybody with information about the attacks to contact them on 061-212400.

Limerick gardaí are still investigating a reported sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl at the weekend.

The girl told her parents she was sexually assaulted after she went to a house party last Saturday night in the city.

A youth, who was taken into custody on another matter, has been questioned about the alleged assault.

The girl was brought to the sexual assault clinic in Cork’s South Infirmary.