Gardaí in Athlone have stepped up their efforts to catch a serial sex offender who has carried out three violent assaults over the past two months.
Yesterday gardaí distributed photofit pictures throughout the town in an effort to track down the culprit who struck at the same spot every time.
"There's a real sense of fear out there, and people are on high alert," said mayor Paul Hogan.
Crimestoppers have offered a reward of €10,000 leading to the capture of the man, who is believed to be about 6ft tall, with short black hair, and aged between 25 and 30 years.
"The man or men who carried out these attacks may have cuts and bruises on their arms and face, given the terrain where the attacks took place," said Supt Aidan Glackin.
The latest incident took place at Bonavalley Bridge on Tuesday night, and follows attacks at the same location on August 12th and September 23rd. In all three cases, a lone male attacked a lone female and pulled the victim into an area of undergrowth where the violent assaults took place.
"This is very distressing news for the people of Athlone. It is very traumatic for the three victims and their families," said Cllr Hogan. "These attacks were of the most horrendous and horrific nature."
He called for the erection of hidden cameras around the town and said gardaí should be carrying out "decoy" operations with undercover officers.
"I would also appeal to the public to be extra vigilant and inform the Garda of anything they think is relevant. It might even appear somewhat irrelevant, but it could turn out to be the last piece in the jigsaw."
Posters in English, Polish, Latvian, and Lithuanian - all of them carrying the suspect's description and photofit - were distributed in Athlone yesterday.
Anyone with information should contact Athlone Garda station on 09064 98 550.