A woman was beaten and sexually assaulted while she walked in the southern outskirts of Bray on Thursday night. She was punched in the face and forced into bushes. The victim had walked across Boghall Road and turned up Schools Road, close to St Fergal's Church and towards Deepdale, when she realised there was someone behind her. "Without warning the man - who appeared to be alone - hit her in the face with his fist," said a Garda spokeswoman.
The man pushed her into bushes near the fire station, where he sexually assaulted and beat her. Tests will confirm whether a rape occurred. The attack took place between 10.30 p.m. and 11.00 p.m.
Afterwards the perpetrator walked away in the direction of Boghall Road. The woman raised the alarm by knocking on the door of a nearby home.
The attacker is described as in his 30s, of medium build with dark cropped hair. He spoke with a local accent. Gardai at Bray are investigating the incident.