Man being questioned after woman was attacked in her Cork City home

The woman managed to get free at around 9.40am, grab her child, and run outside in her slippers to a pharmacy across the road

The street was sealed off, and paramedics treated the woman at the scene before taking her to Cork University Hospital for treatment for what gardaí described as non life-threatening injuries. Picture: Dan Linehan

A woman fled her home with an infant in her arms after she was seriously assaulted, in what detectives believe was a targeted attack.

A man in his 40s was still being questioned about the terrifying incident which unfolded in a house on Evergreen St, near Cork City centre, on Monday.

It is believed the suspect arrived at the house close to the junction of Summerhill South and forced his way inside where he threatened the woman, who was at home alone with the child, and subjected her to a serious assault.

She managed to get free at around 9.40am, grab her child, and run outside in her slippers to a pharmacy across the road. Onlookers reporting seeing blood on her clothing.

It is believed she may have suffered slash wounds from a bladed instrument during her struggle to escape.

The alarm was raised immediately,  but her attacker fled through a rear door.

Several garda units, including members of the armed support unit, as well as paramedics, rushed to the scene.

The street was sealed off, and paramedics treated the woman at the scene before taking her to Cork University Hospital for treatment for what gardaí described as non life-threatening injuries.

The house was sealed off for a full technical examination by garda forensic experts.

Gardaí cornered off the area outside the house on Evergreen St. Picture: Dan Linehan

A major search operation was launched involving the garda air unit which identified a suspect on waste ground nearby, where gardaí arrested a man in his 40s. He had suffered minor injuries to his arms and hands.

He was taken to a garda station in the city and was detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 which allows gardaí to detain suspects for up to 24 hours. Gardaí said their investigations are ongoing.

The victim and the suspect are both originally from Romania. It was not clear last night if they are known to each other.