Updated 12.30pm
GARDAÍ ARE APPEALING for witnesses to an alleged sexual assault on a woman in the Clondalkin area of south Dublin.
A garda spokesperson said the incident occurred on the Ninth Lock Road at 3.20am this morning. The Irish Independent reports a female cyclist was pulled into an area of parkland by a number of attackers.
Local Sinn Féin TD Eoin O’Broin said the community is “shocked”.
“It’s a relatively quiet part of the constituency, it’s beside two housing estates that would be very settled, there wouldn’t be many calls about anti-social behaviour or violence of any kind,” he told TheJournal.ie.
People are very angry that an attack of this brutal nature could take place here.
The TD said assaults like this one are not merely isolated incidents, but indicative of the wider issue of sexual violence all across the country.
“I think most people don’t understand the depth of the problem of sexual violence and rape in society”.
Figures from the courts for last year show just 15% of the 618 contested rape prosecutions were successful.
“That’s hardly an encouragement for someone who is a survivor of sexual assault or rape,” he said.
No arrests have been made over this morning’s incident and investigations are ongoing. The area has been sealed off for a technical examination.
Gardaí are asking anyone who was in the area at the time or who knows anything about this incident to contact them at Ronanstown Garda Station on 01 666 7700.
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