Brutal rape prompts warning in North

Women in west Belfast have been urged to be vigilant after a woman was viciously raped at the weekend.

The victim had left a nightclub in Andersonstown and was walking across waste ground when she was attacked from behind by three men.

She was held down by two of the gang while the third raped her.

SDLP Assembly member Patricia Lewsley expressed concern that the gang could strike again and urged women to take precautions.

“Women in particular need to be more vigilant when they are out. I would appeal to them not to go down dark alleyways and to stay in well-lit areas.

“Don’t go on your own. Make sure there are people with you and keep enough money to take a taxi.”

The Lagan Valley representative said it was the second attack in the area in the past few months.

In the previous incident a young woman was dragged into a car outside Woodbourne Police Station and sexually assaulted.

A police officer investigating the weekend attack said he believed the assailants were from the area.

Det Sgt John McDermott said someone from the area must have witnessed the attack, which took place between 11pm and 11.30pm on Friday.

“There is a public house at the end of that laneway. It is facing Andersontown Leisure Centre and is on a main thoroughfare.

“When we went back on Saturday night to do further inquiries, there was still a lot of people using this,” he said.

Mrs Lewsley urged people in the area to cooperate with the police.

“These people need to be brought to justice and the law needs to deal with them severely,” she added.