AN ARMAGH community is in shock after a woman was raped by two masked men while her three young children were in the house, a local politician has said.
SDLP councillor Joe Nelson was speaking after the attack on the woman in Monbrief in Craigavon on Thursday, details of which were only released at the weekend.
The men, who had local accents, got into the house and carried out the attack while the woman’s three children – aged three years, two years and seven months old – were also in the home.
The woman was taken to hospital for treatment after the attack.
It comes only weeks after a gang rape attack in nearby Dingwell Park, which is not being treated as linked.
Cllr Nelson said the latest incident had stirred up memories of the previous attack on July 13th.
“Once again there is a real sense of shock in the area. My thoughts are with the victim of this sinister and evil act. Indeed, the trauma experienced by her children will be difficult to overcome.
“It’s hard to put in words what would drive people to commit such a depraved crime. Any right-thinking person would condemn this.
“Those responsible need to be caught immediately and I urge anybody with information, however small, to pass it to the police.”
The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information about the assault to come forward. A police spokesman said there was no robbery during the incident and that detectives are pursuing all lines of inquiry.