Gardai in Cork have appealed to the public for help in establishing whether there is a link between a man posing as a taxi-driver in a stolen minibus yesterday and a serious sexual assault on a French woman in the city earlier this month.
A red Isuzu minibus was stolen from Rosewood Estate in Ballincollig at around 11 p.m. on Monday night. It was later seen in Patrick Street in Cork city between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. with the driver posing as a taxi-driver and offering lifts to youths.
The minibus, registration 90-C-12590, was later found burnt out in Ballincollig, and gardai are now appealing to the public for assistance.
On September 7th a man posing as a taxi-driver in a stolen minibus collected a French woman from her hostel. He drove her down a lonely road, threatened her with a screwdriver and sexually assaulted her.
The minibus was later found burnt out and abandoned in Togher. Anyone who can assist is asked to contact gardai at Anglesea Street on 021522000.