Police hunt local men after rape

The waste ground is used as a throughway

The police have said they believe three men who carried out a horrific rape attack on a young woman in west Belfast were local.

She was attacked from behind as she walked home over waste ground from a social club off the Andersonstown Road shortly after 2300 GMT on Friday.

She was struck on the back of the head and two of the men held her down while the third raped her.

Detective Sergeant John McDermott, leading the inquiry, said it was one of the most brutal rapes he had investigated.

DS John McDermott: "We were shocked by callousness and brutality"

The police have warned women to be extra vigilant following the attack.

DS McDermott said the area was constantly used as a throughway by the Andersonstown community and even when police had cordoned it off to start their investigation, officers had to turn many people away from using it.

He said the men must have had detailed local knowledge of the area, to carry out such an attack.

"I believe they knew where they were and specifically targeted this lady," he said.

"There is one way in through South Link and there is another way in through Penny Lane on the Andersonstown Road.

"If they went up into South Link into the heart of the estate, they wouldn't have been able to get out, if they didn't know where they were going."

Description

DS McDermott said the woman had given a good description of the rapist.

He said the man was aged in his 20s, about six feet tall, with fair, possibly bleached blond hair in a crew cut, clean shaven and of slim build with broad shoulders. He was wearing jeans.

He appealed to anyone who saw youths standing in the area looking suspicious, or what they thought was a quarrel between a couple on Friday night to contact him.

Bairbre de Brun: "Contact organisations with information"

DS McDermott said the woman had been left severely traumatised by the attack.

"What has shocked us most in the CID and care unit is the callousness and brutality used against this lady," he said.

"I think it is the first time we have come across a situation where three men were involved and two held the lady while the third raped her.

"The lady has been left in a terrible emotional state."

Sinn Fein appeal

Andersonstown is a strongly nationalist area where there is a level of support in the community for Sinn Fein's opposition to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Local Sinn Fein assembly member Bairbre de Brun said: "I am not telling people who they should not go to, nor am I telling people who they should go to.

"I am appealing to people to go with information to go to those organisations that they feel comfortable with.

"And I am making this appeal particularly here in this area where it is known that the PSNI does not have support and that therefore some people will be reluctant to come forward."

Changed times

Local SDLP assembly member Patricia Lewsley said the community was very shocked by the attack.

But she said women must realise that society had changed and it was no longer safe for young women to walk alone on the streets.

"Quite often in a community like this, people think they can still move freely about.

"But I would say to young women, try to not to be on your own and try to bring money to get a taxi home.

"Even if you are in a group, stick to main roads and well-lit places where there might be someone to help if you are attacked."

She added: "It is very shocking that this was carried out at 11pm when presumably there would have been a lot of people about.

"I hope when these men are caught they are given a very severe sentence."