Student Rape Victim Back In USA

The victim of a vicious knifepoint rape has now left Northern Ireland after being raped at knifepoint in Londonderry.

The American student was assaulted by her attacker who first forced her to go into a car park outside the Bogside Inn in the city where he raped her on Saturday evening.

She had been socialising with friends prior to the attack. Police said she was severely traumatised.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, Roisin Barton from the Bogside and Brandywell Women's Group said her attacker had left her to face "a life sentence".

"It is ironic that the women's group were erecting a mural about human rights yesterday just as this news was breaking," she said.

"Somebody in this area, whether from the area or coming into the area, has violated this woman's human rights or dignity. They have left her with a life sentence."

Local assembly member Martina Anderson has urged anyone with information to contact the police.

"It is absolutely appalling. There is uproar in this area as the news is spreading around like wildfire about what happened," she said.

"We want the perpetrator of this crime brought before the courts."

Police want to speak to anyone who was in the area between 2230 GMT and midnight on Saturday who saw a man leading the girl to the rear of the Bogside Inn.

The area police commander also revealed that the unnamed victim was now back home in the USA and that his enquiries were continuing. In particular, he said that his officers were hoping that CCTV images from the area of the attack would aid the investigation.

(BMcC)