No link between Moate sex assault and Athlone attacks

Gardai have ruled out a link between a sexual assault on a woman in Moate at the weekend and the five brutal attacks on women in Athlone over the past year. Between 2am and 2.30am on Monday morning a 19-year-old woman walking home from Silver"s Nightclub in Moate was attacked by a lone man at Newtown, Moate, and sexually assaulted. Gardai have said the circumstances surrounding this assault and the five attacks on women in Athlone were different and they were not linking this assault to the Athlone attacks. The man is described as being between 5"8' and 5"10' in height with short dark hair and a baby face. He fled the scene when passers by walked by. The scene was preserved and was forensically examined on Monday. Gardai have carried out house to house enquiries in the area and are examining CCTV footage. Anybody with any information in relation to this assault is asked to contact Athlone Garda Station on 090 6492609.