Girl (13) sexually assaulted at party n Three arrested in Garda investigation
Three people, including a woman, have been arrested following a shocking sexual assault on a 13-year-old schoolgirl.
The woman, who was detained for questioning by gardai on Monday, is the latest person to be arrested in connection with a case that has horrified residents of a local village.
A file on the woman's role in the serious sexual assault is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will decide whether charges will be brought against her.
It is understood that the young victim, who does not look older than 13, was sexually assaulted by a man aged in his 20s in a house where a party was being held.
The teenager, who is from Clonmel, was driven to the house in a west Tipperary village by an adult, who has been questioned by gardai. The Nationalist has been asked not to identify the village where the assault occurred, in order to protect the identities of those involved in the highly sensitive investigation.
Two men were arrested on Thursday under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows detention for up to 24 hours, and were held for questioning at a local garda station.
One of the men, who is from the area and is aged in his mid-20s, was arrested on suspicion of carrying out the horrific sexual attack on the teenager.
Both men were released from custody on Friday and gardai are now in the process of preparing a detailed file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In the latest development, a woman was arrested by gardai on Monday and was brought in for questioning, also under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. She was subsequently released without charge and a file for the DPP is being compiled regarding her role in the case.
The disturbing sexual assault happened on Sunday week, after the teenage victim was brought to a house in west Tipperary where a party was underway. It is believed that a man attending the party brought her to a room in the house, where she was subjected to an extremely serious sexual assault.
The schoolgirl was brought back to Clonmel the following morning in a shocked and dishevelled condition and, following a complaint, a full garda investigation was launched.
An incident room was immediately set up at Clonmel garda station, involving a team of gardai from both Clonmel and Tipperary town, and a full enquiry got underway leading to the arrests of three people.
Local rumours that the teenager was lured to the house after befriending the man on a social networking site, such as Bebo or Facebook, could not be confirmed by gardai.
A garda spokesman said that detailed files were being prepared on all three people questioned as part of the investigation and would be sent to the DPP's office as early as possible.
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Weather for Clonmel
Thursday 20 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 12 C to 18 C
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Wind direction: South
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