Gardai follow new lead in Bonavalley probe

Gardai are this week following up a fresh lead into their investigation into the brutal attacks of four women in the Bonavalley Bridge area and a fifth woman at Hall"s Bridge over the past 14 months. Following a nationwide appeal for a man they believe may have information that could help them with their investigation, Gardai in Athlone have located an individual and are talking to him in relation to something he may have seen. Gardai have identified and interviewed a number of witnesses as part of the investigation, but they believe this man may have unknowingly had information in his possession that could assist them. They are speaking to him now about his memory of events in the hope that he may have seen something that could help them. Since August of last year five women have been violently attacked in the town, four of them in the Bonavalley Bridge area of town and another woman in the vicinity of Hall"s Bridge. Three of the women were attacked in the vicinity of Bonavalley Bridge in August, September and October of last year. A fourth woman was attacked near Chadwick"s at the Bonavalley Bridge last month and a week later a fifth woman was attacked near Hall"s Bridge. All five women were attacked by a lone male assailant from behind. In a separate investigation a man was arrested in relation to a sexual assault on a 19 year old woman in Moate last week. Gardai have said this attack was unrelated to the five attacks in Athlone. A 26 year old Irish man, who is not from the locality, was arrested on Saturday. He was detained for questioning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and was released without charge late on Saturday evening. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.