Two freed in Athlone girls sexual assault case

One of three men arrested as part of a major police investigation into an alleged sex attack on two girls remains in Garda custody today.

It is understood the youngsters, who are believed to be aged six and nine, were lured away from a children’s birthday party and subjected to a serious sexual assault in Athlone.

Two other men who were in the home where the alleged attacks took place were released without charge this morning.

A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions to assess if they will face charges in the future.

The alleged sex assaults took place on Saturday afternoon while a group of children were at a house celebrating a friend’s birthday.

While the party was under way, the girls were playing outside and are believed to have been enticed to a nearby house by a man who was not attending the celebration.

The girls were taken to hospital in Galway for medical treatment.

It is believed they managed to flee from their attackers by climbing out of a window. The girls ran back to the house where the party was taking place and raised the alarm.

The three men were initially arrested for public order offences and taken to Athlone Garda Station.

They were subsequently taken before a special sitting of the local District Court on Saturday where they were remanded in custody.

All three were later re-arrested as part of the investigation into the alleged sexual assault and taken back to Athlone Garda Station.

A decision is expected to be made with the next two hours on whether to take the third man to court on charges related to the alleged sex attack.