Sexual attack on teenage girl in Derry playground

A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD girl was raped in a playground in a housing estate in the Waterside area of Derry on Saturday night.

The attack took place at 10.30pm as the girl was being escorted to her grandmother’s home by a male friend who was knocked to the ground.

Local DUP Cllr Drew Thompson said residents in the Nelson Drive estate have been shocked at the assault.

“The girl, who lives locally, was playing with a group of young people. She decided to go to her grandmother’s house and her male companion said he would walk with her,” he said.

A PSNI spokesman described the attack as a particularly serious sexual assault.

“Her attacker is aged in his twenties, of average height and he spoke with a strong local accent . . . The victim has been severely traumatised by what has happened to her and we appeal to anyone with information to contact us,” the spokesman said.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times