Student rape victim drugged, threatened
Family of Spanish teen fly into Dublin Judge had warned of suspect’s mental health Gardaí and DPP at odds over charges
THE chief suspect in the alleged repeated rape of an 18-year-old Spanish student forced his terrified victim to take prescription pills during the ordeal, gardaí believe.
The 24-year-old suspect, who is on bail in relation to other serious matters, also threatened to kill his victim unless she swallowed the tablets during the prolonged attack.
CCTV footage reviewed by detectives also shows the alleged victim walking behind the suspect before the violent assault occurred. Officers believe she initially went willingly with her attacker after he persuaded her to accompany him to Sandymount Strand in Dublin under false pretences.
The student’s family are understood to have travelled to Ireland to comfort her following the alleged attack. The Irish
Independent can reveal a judge previously warned the rape suspect had “serious issues” which had to be addressed following a psychological report.
The suspect was questioned by gardaí but he was released without charge on Tuesday night. A senior source has stated that gardaí are continuing to carry out an investigation into the alleged rape and false imprisonment.
“The decision was made by the DPP on Tuesday that there was insufficient evidence to bring a charge in relation to the incident at this moment in time.
“Gardaí are anxious to get this man off the streets, but they are hampered by the direction of the DPP,” the source said.
A DISTURBED criminal who is the chief suspect in the alleged repeated rape of an 18-yearold Spanish student forced his terrified victim to take prescription pills during the horror ordeal, Gardaí believe.
The 24-year-old suspect, who is on bail in relation to other serious matters, threatened to kill his victim unless she swallowed the tablets during the prolonged attack which took place throughout Saturday night and Sunday morning last.
CCTV footage reviewed by detectives also shows the alleged victim walking behind the suspect before the violent assault occurred in Dublin.
Officers believe she initially went willingly with her attacker after he persuaded her to accompany him to Sandymount strand under false pretences.
Gardaí are awaiting toxicology reports to determine how many tablets the victim ingested.
Warning
Senior sources last night stated the Garda investigation had been “methodical” in gathering evidence but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided there was insufficient evidence for charges at this stage.
It can also be revealed a judge previously warned that the rape suspect had “serious issues” which had to be addressed following a psychological report.
Detectives investigating the attack last weekend are also awaiting DNA results and are analysing CCTV in the locality.
It is understood CCTV was sent to the DPP’s office by gardaí who formed the opinion that it indicated that the woman was walking willingly with the man. However, the suspect was also captured carrying the alleged victim’s handbag.
A senior source also stated that gardaí were continuing to carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged rape and false imprisonment.
“The decision was made by the DPP on Tuesday that there was insufficient evidence to bring a charge in relation to the incident at this moment in time.
“Gardaí are anxious to get this man off the streets but they are hampered by the direction
of the DPP,” the source said.
“There was also no evidence that this man breached the bail conditions imposed on him by the court, and therefore he couldn’t be brought before the District Court for breaking his bail terms after he was arrested,” the source added.
It is understood the student who was allegedly attacked over the weekend is interested in photography and the man offered to take her to a nature reserve at the beach.
They then took the Luas to The Point in the capital’s docklands and walked across the East Link bridge to Pigeon House Road on the southside.
The student alleged the man
The decision was made by the DPP that there was insufficient evidence to bring a charge. Gardaí are anxious to get this man off the streets but they are hampered by the direction of the DPP
brought her to a tent in a location nearby and raped her repeatedly. She said the man eventually fell asleep and she managed to escape on Sunday morning, making her way to a house where the alarm was raised and gardaí called.
The victim was brought to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in the Rotunda Hospital after reporting her ordeal.
Her family travelled from Spain to Ireland in recent days to comfort the student as she recovers.
Investigating officers from Irishtown station arrested the chief suspect in Ringsend on Monday morning and brought him to the station for questioning in connection with alleged rape and false imprisonment.
He was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and his period of detention later extended.
But he was released without charge on Tuesday night.
The alleged rapist was already out on bail and facing charges for a wide variety of offences, including criminal damage, possession of drugs, trespassing and public order offences.
He has also been detained under the Mental Health Act on a number of occasions and has been investigated for firearm-related offences in the past.
Last night sources said gardaí have not linked last weekend’s attack in Sandymount to another rape which happened in the same locality a number of weeks before. Irishtown gardaí are still investigating allegations of a serious sexual assault in May which took place less than a kilometre away from the latest incident.
It is understood a woman had been walking home when she was allegedly attacked on Church Avenue on May 30.
The woman was hospitalised after the alleged assault.
A Garda spokeswoman said: “I can confirm this matter remains under investigation. There have been no arrests.”