Standoff after woman injured

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to an attack in Cork which left a woman with serious head and facial injuries.

The incident led to a near four-hour standoff when a man barricaded himself inside a house.

Gardaí believe the woman, who is in her 20s, was held in the house against her will and, allegedly, repeatedly beaten.

She managed to escape around 2.45am yesterday and made her way to Mallow General Hospital before being transferred to Cork University Hospital.

The alleged attack occurred at Sandfield Terrace, close to the railway station.

Gardaí arrived at the scene at around 3am and were met by a man in his late 20s who refused to let them inside. Superintendent Pat McCarthy said the man had barricaded himself in.

Garda reinforcements were called from Kanturk along with armed members of the Garda Regional Support Unit. An on-scene commander and trained garda negotiator were also present.

The man eventually agreed to leave the house shortly after 6.30am.

He was arrested, taken to Mallow Garda Station, and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

It is believed the pair were previously friends. The woman may have gone to the house around midnight.

Gardai are asking anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area between midnight and 3am to contact Mallow Garda Station at 022 31450.