The Gardaí at Mountjoy Garda Station are appealing for information in relation to an assault which occurred at Cross Guns Bridge, Phibsborough on the 9th February 2013 at approximately 03.20am.
The injured party had been in a pub in the Phibsborough area with a friend on the night of the assault. She left the pub at approximately 3.10am. She turned left and walked up towards Phibsborough.
The injured party headed towards Crossguns Bridge. She didn’t notice a man walking behind her. As she reached the crest of Cross Gun’s Bridge the man attacked her from behind by putting his arm around her neck and pulled her from the bridge and onto the pathway by the canal. The woman tried to fend him off but he managed to get her onto the ground. She started to scream and fought him off again. But he grabbed her again and tried to pull her back towards the canal.
A taxi driver saw the woman struggling and pulled in, a second taxi driver also stopped. The woman managed to get up and run to one of the Taxi drivers. One of the taxi drivers ran after the attacker. Three young men who were passing at the time of the assault also ran after the attacker who managed to get away.
Appeal:
• Gardaí are appealing to any person who was in the Crossguns Bridge area on the night of the assault. In particular to any taxi men working in the area at the time- they may have something to offer or may have noticed some suspicious activity that resembled an attack on a young woman.
• The suspect is described as approximately five foot seven in height, slim build and wearing a ‘tanned’ jacked with the rim of a white shirt slightly exposed just beneath the rear of the jacket. He wore dark coloured jeans. He had a Dublin accent and may have been drinking locally that night / early hours into the next day.
• The suspect made his escape down the canal and in the direction of Shandon Park – he may have gone into Shandon Park itself or escaped via Crossguns Quay apartments, Shandon Mill apartments or Shandon Gardens. Gardaí are appealing to any person living in these areas who may have seen some person matching the description of the suspect to come forward.
• People should be aware of the dangers involved whilst walking alone in particular at that time in the night or morning. Men and women should organise alternative arrangements or indeed leave with a group.
Gardaí at Mountjoy Garda Station are investigating Telephone 01 666 8600
