Man arrested over alleged sexual assault

A MAN in his mid-30s was arrested by gardaí yesterday in connection with an investigation into an alleged serious sexual assault in a Co Cork town.

The sexual assault is alleged to have taken place in the early hours of the Easter bank holiday Monday in Fermoy.

The victim, understood to be a local woman in her early 20s, was on her way home from a night out when she claimed she was attacked by a man in the town centre.

The woman made the complaint to the gardaí herself at their station in O’Neill Crowley Quay.

Gardaí then arranged for her to be taken to the sexual assault treatment unit at the South Infirmary/Victoria University Hospital in Cork city.

Following treatment she was discharged and was then interviewed at length by detectives from the Cork North Garda Division, who immediately launched a manhunt for her attacker.

It is understood the detectives made a number of inquiries around the town and also trawled through CCTV footage taken from the general area.

Superintendent Tom Myers, who is leading the investigation, confirmed that a man was arrested in the Fermoy area shortly before 4pm yesterday.

He said the man, who is Irish and lives locally, was taken to Fermoy Garda Station for questioning by detectives.

He was being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

Supt Myers said gardaí were following a definite line of inquiry and were not seeking any witnesses to aid them with their investigation.