![Hunt still on for man believed to be responsible for Clondalkin sexual assault Hunt still on for man believed to be responsible for Clondalkin sexual assault](https://cdn.echo.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/30124030/598b431dd52aecdb7af226f303ba1598.jpg)
Hunt still on for man believed to be responsible for Clondalkin sexual assault
By Maurice Garvey
THE hunt continues for a man gardaí say was one of three thugs responsible for the shocking rape of a mother on the Ninth Lock Road in Clondalkin.
A man in his teens and another man in his early 20s were arrested last Friday and questioned at Lucan Garda Station, before being released without charge.
The woman in her 30s was pushing her bicycle home from a service station at around 3.15am on Thursday, August 4, when three thugs grabbed her.
She was pulled into an area of parkland beside the road, where one of the trio raped her.
The victim did not know her attackers.
Gardaí received a massive response from the public after they issued an appeal for information following the attack.
It emerged that the three suspects may all be closely related to one another.
Local sources fear the third man yet to be arrested has fled and might be in hiding.
A number of online threats have been made with local criminals threatening to kill the men involved,” said a local source.
Threats have been directed at the perpetrators since the morning of the attack, and it is understood the names of individuals suspected of involvement were shared on social media.
The descriptions of the attackers that the victim was able to give gardaí is that the men were all in the region of 5ft 8ins, spoke with Dublin accents, and were wearing dark-coloured clothes and hoodies.
The men arrested before being released were both out on bail for separate offences and had 30 convictions between them for minor theft and public order offences.
Independent Councillor Francis Timmons said: “I have asked the council to remove the trees and cut back bushes around the general area where the awful rape took place to make it safer.
“My thoughts and solidarity lie with a young lady who suffered a horrible rape involving three people. It is a horrendous crime and those responsible must face the justice system as soon as possible. The community is devastated and numb that this took place in our community.”
Gardaí continue to appeal for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them at Ronanstown Garda Station on 666 7700.