Gardaí were last night investigating a 13-year-old girl's claims that she was raped by a gang of teenagers in Cork city on Saturday night. The young teenager and her 17-year-old female friend say they were set upon by up to eight teenagers as they walked along Little Hanover Street in the city centre.
However, it is understood that different locations were given for the alleged rape and gardaí were last night still trying to establish the facts of the case.
The two girls had just left the Mardyke complex, which houses a gaming arcade and bowling alley, at around 10.15 p.m. on Saturday night when they say they were attacked by up to eight teenage boys and girls.
The 17-year-old girl said her handbag was stolen by two teenage girls. When she ran after them to try to retrieve it, the 13-year-old was allegedly assaulted by the remaining teenagers. She claims she was then raped while she was on her own.
She was taken to the Mercy Hospital where she was treated yesterday.
Gardaí sealed off the area and a full technical examination of the scene took place yesterday morning.
A number of pubs in the area yesterday said gardaí had taken closed circuit television footage as part of their investigation into the alleged incident.
Mr Peter Mitchell, an employee in Galvin's off-licence where CCTV footage was taken by gardaí, said he was shocked to hear of the allegations.
"I was working until around midnight last night and the first I heard about it was when the police came here to inspect the CCTV footage. It's not the kind of thing you normally hear about," he said.
Gardaí also undertook house-to-house inquiries in the area which typically attracts large groups of young people at the weekend.
The Cork Rape Crisis Centre expressed shock at the alleged incident.
Ms Mary Crilly of the centre said her heart went out to the young girl at the centre of the investigation, who, she said, appeared to have taken precautions by ensuring she was accompanied by an older person.
She said she was disturbed by the allegations and that people were often reluctant to intervene in an incident when gangs were involved.
Detectives from the Bridewell and Anglesea Street Garda stations were involved in the investigation.
A number of pubs and nightclubs are located in the area, which is just off the busy thoroughfare of Washington Street. Little Hanover Street has been the subject of a number of complaints by elected representatives regarding the level of outdoor drinking.
The Cork Rape Crisis Centre says incidents of rape in Cork have been on the increase, although in most cases the victim is acquainted with the perpetrator.
However, Ms Crilly said incidents of "stranger rape" were occurring and were by no means rare incidents.
