Gardai investigate attack on Headford mother

GARDAàin Headford are appealing for information following an assault on a young mother who was attacked in her own home. The incident happened in the Mausrevagh area, close to St Cuana's National School at lunchtime on Monday when the woman, who is in her 30s, confronted an intruder in the basement of her home. [private] Her four-year-old son, who was in the house at the time, was not harmed in the attack during which the woman was grabbed by the hair and knocked her head against a wall. Garda Peadar Brick from Headford Garda station appealed for the public's assistance in helping apprehend the man responsible. 'We are still investigating the incident in which a lady was attacked in the basement of her home,' he said. 'She was in the house with her four-year-old son and when she went down into the basement to do some laundry, she heard a noise. The next thing she knew she was being grabbed by the hair and was knocked against a wall before the man fled the scene.' In the hours following the incident a number of sightings were reported of the suspect, who was wearing a navy or black hoodie and white runners, and was seen thumbing a lift in the Mourne's Sweep area of Ballydonnellan. 'We have had a number of sightings both on Monday evening and Tuesday morning of a man matching the description of the attacker, who was trying to hitch a lift in the Ballydonnellan area,' added Garda Brick. 'So if anyone has any information on this individual, or indeed gave him a lift somewhere, we need to speak with them.' The woman's husband, who was farming a short distance from the family home at the time of the attack, is comforting her following her ordeal, which has left her badly traumatised. 'This is a pretty built-up area and the local community is very shocked by what has happened, particularly elderly people who are very frightened that something like this could happen to them,' said Garda Brick. 'We are urging people to be vigilant and security conscious when they are at home, especially if they are on their own, because all it takes is a door left ajar to allow someone to enter your property.' Anyone with information that may assist Gardaí in their investigation is asked to contact Headford Garda Station on 093 - 35412. [/private]