A young teenage boy has been identified as a person of interest by gardai investigating the attack on a woman in her 20s.
The woman is being treated for severe facial bruising and other injuries after she was attacked on a Cork city street.
Gardai have identified a young teen boy from Cork city who is believed to be about 13 years old as a suspect in the incident.
It is understood that they are also exploring the possibility that the attacker attempted to sexually assault the young woman before people passing by intervened.
It’s believed her attacker followed her after she left a pub in the Washington St area before carrying out the sustained assault on Evergreen St around 11.30 pm on Saturday night.
No arrests have been made but Cork Beo understands gardai have identified a suspect and are following a “definite line of inquiry.”
The attack was first witnessed by a woman who was driving past.
Shortly after another car stopped and two men got out and began to chase the suspect who then fled.
The alarm was raised and the young woman was taken to Cork University Hospital.
Gardai are examining CCTV footage from several cameras between Washington Street and the scene of the assault.
The woman has spoken to gardai about the incident. Statements have also been taken from persons who intervened to help the woman and by individuals who witnessed the attack.