Manhunt continues after girl in her late teens attacked in Kilkenny

Gardaí at the scene of the incident. Picture: Dylan Vaughan.

The girl who was assaulted while out for exercise in Kilkenny is expected to be interviewed by gardaí today as efforts continue to locate her attacker.

The teenager was interviewed yesterday briefly following the incident outside of Johnstown, shortly after on Monday.

She was treated for an injury in St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny yesterday afternoon before being discharged. 

She was also treated for shock at the hospital.

It is understood the man was carrying a sharp implement such as scissors or a knife.

This morning, there was a big garda presence in the village in north Kilkenny and locals said that there is horror and concern in the area, particularly as the attacker remains at large.

A garda spokesman said there has been no arrest in the case. A meeting of officers involved in the investigation took place this morning.

An air and ground search was mounted by gardaí yesterday afternoon following the incident which occurred about 1km from Johnstown shortly after midday yesterday.

Search teams included garda dogs, as well as a garda helicopter.

The girl has told gardaí that her attacker was white, wore dark clothes, spoke with an Irish accent and aged in his 40s.

The incident occurred less than three weeks after the killing of 23-year-old Ashling Murphy in Offaly on January 12.

Gardaí are appealing for any person travelling on the R639 between Johnstown and The Gallops (a minor road also known locally as Cullinanes Lane), Ballyspellan between 11am and 12.15pm, particularly any person with any video footage (dashcam or other recording device) to contact Gardaí at Kilkenny at 056 7775000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.