Man (27) arrested over attack on woman walking dog in park

Suspect can be detained at Fermoy Garda station for up to 24 hours for questioning

Gardaí have arrested a man in connection with an attack on a woman while she was out walking her dog in a park in Fermoy on Sunday night.

Officers in in north Cork arrested a 27-year-old man in Fermoy at about 2pm on Tuesday and brought him to Fermoy Garda station for questioning about the attack .

The Eastern European man was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows gardaí to detain suspects for up to 24 hours before they have to be charged or released.

The woman, who is in her 50s, was walking her dog in St Colman’s Park on the southside of Fermoy at about 6.45pm on Sunday when she was approached by a lone male.

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The man knocked the woman to the ground and attempted to sexually assault her and steal some personal items but he was disturbed by two other people walking in the park and fled the scene.

The woman was badly shaken in the attack which left her with a number of non-life threatening injuries. She was later taken to the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital for treatment.

Gardaí cordoned off the area and a full technical examination and search of the area began at first light on Monday morning as gardaí searched for clues to help them identify the attacker.

Investigators also carried out door to door inquiries in the general area and they also harvested CCTV around the southside of Fermoy which they examined in a bid to try and identify a suspect.

Gardaí also issued an appeal to anyone who noticed any one acting suspiciously in the St Colman’s Park between 6pm and 7pm on Sunday to contact Fermoy gardaí on 025-82100.

Barry Roche

Barry Roche

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent of The Irish Times