Irish Independent

Gardaí fear suspect in taxi rape has fled to Pakistan

- Ken Foy

A TAXI driver who is the suspect in the rape of a young woman after she attended a Christmas party in Dublin 4 has fled the country.

It’s understood the alleged rapist was living in the Tallaght area at the time of the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, December 9 last.

Investigat­ing gardaí believe the south Asian national may now be in Pakistan.

It’s understood gardaí have searched the suspect’s Tallaght home and carried out forensic examinatio­ns of the property.

The 22-year-old woman was allegedly attacked in the back of a taxi, which was being driven by the suspect.

This vehicle has since been located, seized and forensical­ly examined by officers.

“Gardaí are now in a position

to arrest this suspect but he has fled the country,” one senior source said last night.

The suspect was identified within days of gardaí issuing a reconstruc­ted image and a detailed descriptio­n of the man on December 17. The senior source said officers were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.

It is understood the alleged assault took place as the car was parked on Emmet Street, in Dublin’s north inner city, between 2am and 3am on December 9.

Witnesses came forward after investigat­ing gardaí issued an appeal for people who may have seen the victim in the Mountjoy Square area in Dublin’s north inner city in the immediate aftermath of the incident. These witnesses told gardaí she was in a very distressed state.

 ??  ?? Suspect: The man was identified from this reconstruc­ted image
Suspect: The man was identified from this reconstruc­ted image

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