Gardai in Co Carlow are investigating a possible link between incidents involving men in a large red car used in the attempted abduction of a woman and approaches made to other women in the area.
Three women have told gardai of approaches made to them by men travelling in a large red car, after it was reported that a man tried to force a woman into a car as she walked home in Tullow last week. Of the three incidents which have since come to light, no physical force was used against the women, according to gardai.
A reconstruction of the Tullow attack and a photofit picture of her assailant will be shown on RTE's Crimeline programme this evening.
The assault happened in the south Leinster region in which a number of women have disappeared or been murdered in recent years. A team of detectives is investigating the possibility that there is a serial killer in the area.
A 24-year-old woman had got off a bus and was walking along Tullowbeg, towards the Carlow Road, at 11 p.m. on September 22nd when a car pulled up.
A man in the passenger seat offered her a lift, but she declined and kept walking. About 100 yards farther along the road, the car pulled up again and the man got out and tried to force her into the car. She put up a struggle and managed to run to her nearby home,
She described the vehicle as a large "square-shaped" red car, possibly a Ford Orion. Her attacker was aged between 25 and 30, 510["] tall, of solid build with a fattish face. He was wearing blue jeans and black shoes.
Since then, three women have told gardai they were approached by men who pulled up in cars as they walked along quiet roads in Co Carlow.
Two of these incidents occurred during the past three weeks and the third took place during the summer. No physical force was used against these women, although "smutty remarks" were made and lifts were offered. Sgt Jim Ryan, of Tullow Garda station, stressed that no definite link between these incidents could be made at this stage. All four women had described the culprit as aged between 25 and 30 and said a large red car had been used in each incident. Two men were involved in three of the incidents, while the fourth woman was approached by a lone driver.
Meanwhile, gardai in Enniskerry, Co Dublin, are investigating a sexual assault on a 22-year-old Korean student at a bus stop in Bray 10 days ago. A man driving a red car, thought to be a Volvo, offered her a lift. She got into the car and he sexually assaulted her. She described him as being in his 30s.
Gardai have urged parents in Cork to be vigilant after a man approached a seven-year-old boy and invited him to go for a drive in his car. The incident happened near Popham's Road Post Office in Farranree at about 7.30 p.m. on Friday as the boy was playing with friends.
A man pulled up in a red car and asked him to go for a drive. The boy refused and the man drove off. The man was described as being in his 30s, tall with dark hair and stubble. Anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious is asked to contact Watercourse Road gardai on (021) 501498.