Garda search for lone male continues after attack on teenage girl in Kilkenny

Gardaí are continuing to search for a lone male who allegedly attacked a teenage girl as she was walking in a rural area of north Kilkenny on Monday.

The 17-year-old girl, who lives locally, was last night being treated in St Luke’s hospital, Kilkenny, for minor injuries.

A large Garda operation, involving a Garda helicopter, took place on Monday afternoon around the village of Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, near where the incident occurred.

“The male is best described, at this time, as a white male in his 40s with an Irish accent,” the Garda said in a statement.

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He was wearing dark clothing and may have been carrying a sharp implement at the time, it is understood.

Screamed for help

The man approached the girl just after noon. The teenager struggled with the man and screamed for help, at which point he fled, gardaí have been told.

The incident occurred on a rural road, known locally as Cullinane’s Lane, located about 1km from Johnstown village, near the townland of Ballyspellan.

The road runs through farmland but has a number of houses on it where gardaí have been carrying out door-to-door inquiries.

Gardaí combed the surrounding fields and gathered CCTV evidence.

The search operation involved dog units and the Garda Air Unit. They have also conducted a preliminary interview with the teenager and have obtained details of the man.