This article is from page 7 of the 2007-08-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
ALLEGATIONS that a 17-year-old Kilrush woman was the victim of a gang rape in the town last week are being investigated by local gardai.
The young woman alleges she was attacked by two or three men, at around 2.45am last Thursday, in the Moore Street area of the town – just hours after she had been out socialis- ing to celebrate her friend’s Leaving Certificate results.
The young woman has claimed that she was set upon and attacked by up to three men – who were unknown to her – and sexually assaulted, on the Street.
She had been socialising in Kilkee earlier that night and had just re- turned to her home town, when the alleged incident took place.
The complainant was alone at the time. She alerted her brother, who phoned Kilrush Garda Station.
An investigation was immediately mounted and the area of the alleged incident was sealed off for a number of hours on Thursday.
The woman was later interviewed by investigating gardai and she made a full statement in relation to the matter. She was treated at the sexual assault unit at the Mid Western Re-
gional Hospital, Limerick, while her clothes were sent away to Dublin for forensic analysis.
Although she was deeply trau- matised, the young woman was not physically injured.
Gardai were due to interview the young woman for a second time yes- terday (Monday) evening.
They have also obtained CCTV footage of the area in question and have viewed this, as part of the in- vestigation.
They say they know little about the alleged perpetrators at this stage.
Kilrush Superintendent Declan Brogan said that no witnesses have yet come forward. However, he is appealing to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the town between 2am and 3am that night tocome forward.
‘There was a festival on (Eigse Mrs Crotty traditional musical festival) over the last week and a lot of people were on the streets that hour of the morning,” said Supt Brogan.
“As of yet, no-one seems to have seen anything. We are appealing for anyone who was in the town that night and who may have informa- tion to contact us,’ he added. Kil- rush gardai can be contacted on 065 9051017.