File to be prepared for DPP on rape of girl (17) in Co Cork

Gardaí are to prepare a file for the DPP after releasing without charge a man arrested for questioning about the rape of a girl (17) in a Co Cork town earlier this month.

Detectives arrested the man (26) at his home in the Charleville area for questioning about the attack on the young girl on Sunday, July 5th.

The girl was walking home on her own in the early hours of the morning after attending a birthday party in the town when she was attacked in the Rathgoggin Middle area.

Family members of the girl had become concerned when she had not arrived home and went searching for her and found her in a distressed state.

The girl’s family raised the alarm and contacted gardaí and she was taken to the sexual assault treatment unit at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in Cork city.

Gardaí cordoned off the scene of the assault and technical experts carried out a forensic examination of the area while they also examined CCTV footage from the town.

Supt Pat McCarthy later appealed to the public for assistance as gardaí confirmed that they were following a definite line of inquiry into the attack which happened between 2am and 3am.

Officers on Thursday morning arrested the 26-year-old for questioning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows gardaí to detain suspects for up to 24 hours.

The man was taken to Mallow Garda station where he was released without charge at around 8.30pm. A file will now be prepared on the matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said a garda spokeman.