HARRY’S GO THE KING TO OF OUR WAR JUNGLE RAPE CLAIM SPORTS STAR CONTACTS COPS

Celebrity willing to attend Garda interview over hotel sex attack allegation

THE sports star at the centre of an alleged hotel rape has contacted gardai through his solicitor, the Irish Mirror has learned.

He offered to make himself available for interview over the reported sex attack in South Co Dublin.

A source said: “Gardai will gather all their evidence before speaking to him. They will do so when they feel the time is right.”

THE sports star at the centre of an alleged brutal hotel rape has been spotted at his solicitor’s office.

Sources have revealed he attended a lengthy meeting with his Dublin-based lawyer in the past 48 hours.

When he left the office it is understood the legal representative called Blackrock Garda station and offered to accompany his client to give an interview.

A source said: “Gardai told the legal counsel they would not take a statement from him as yet because they are working through the evidence.

“They are meticulously working through the case in a methodical way. They are now looking to talk to the witnesses they have identified.

“The arrival and departure of the suspect and the injured party has all been captured on CCTV – it does not show the alleged rape but does show certain interactions.”

It is understood in a brief discussion with investigators the lawyer said his client was willing to be interviewed – but only with his solicitor present.

The source added: “The sports star’s solicitor said his client was willing to talk to the investigating detectives.

“But gardai are in the middle of an extensive investigation and will gather all their evidence before speaking to him. They will do so when they feel the time is right.”

The probe is being led by two hugely experienced officers and a number of detectives and forensic experts have been involved.

It has involved three Garda stations, the first in South-west Dublin where the initial report was made by the distressed woman on Monday.

The investigation was then moved to Pearse Street station in the city centre as the woman initially believed the hotel involved was in the nightlife hotspot of the south-inner city.

As the probe continued gardai eventually tracked down the scene of the alleged rape to a plush hotel in a South Co Dublin suburb.

Detectives were then alerted in nearby Blackrock station and a team has been appointed to lead the investigation.

TERRIFIED

The source said: “There have been experienced female liaison officers working with the woman and offering her support.

“She is in a deep state of distress and she is absolutely terrified. She was allegedly beaten viciously during the incident and she is terrified for her life – she is in absolute fear.

“She has yet to make a statement but the gardai involved have offered her safety and understanding. It is difficult to get that statement and it is a difficult process for her.

“Part of the problem is the sports star is linked to people who are dangerous.”

Gardai are now working through identifying people who were in the company of both the suspect and the alleged victim on the night.

It is understood the woman is friends with relatives of the suspect and was socialising with the group as the sports star knew her.

Sources have said investigators believe the motive for returning to the hotel was to continue a party in a private location.

One added: “It’s understood there were quantities of cocaine involved in this incident – cocaine is known as a drug of choice of this group of people.

“The alleged vicious beating and rape is a serious escalation. The sports star and some of his pals have come to Garda attention in the past.

“There have been complaints before of

The sports star is linked to people who are dangerous

IRISH MIRROR SOURCE

YESTERDAY

violence against women by friends of the sports star and there was a possible incident at a nightclub some years ago.

“That will all be looked at in the probe but at the moment gardai are focused on getting to the point, possibly in a few days, where they have gathered enough to bring this man in.

“They cannot bring him in for questioning until they have a lot of the potential loose ends tied up.”

The hotel room has been identified and forensically examined, while CCTV has been downloaded and staff have been spoken to.

The woman has handed over her blood-stained clothing to gardai and it is now being examined.

The victim, a mother of one, has been examined by a doctor at the Rotunda Hospital’s Sexual Assault Treatment Unit.

She was brought there by officers from the station in South-west Dublin after she made the complaint.

Gardai have established she met the alleged attacker in a South Dublin suburb while socialising.

She travelled in an SUV to a nearby luxury hotel. A group went to a room where cocaine and alcohol was consumed during a party.

At some point between midnight and 3am on Monday morning she alleges she was raped by the sports star who she identified to gardai.

An examination showed she suffered serious injuries.

The alleged victim is a mother of a young child and is in a relationship with another man.