The Irish Independent reports that the main suspects in the West Dublin rape of a young woman last week may be members of the same family.
The gardaí have made two arrests in the case, both men in their late teens to early twenties and are seeking a third who they fear has gone to ground.
It is believed that the three main suspects are related, they were known to gardaí prior to this, but were not considered to be dangerous.
A source who lives in the area close to the alleged attackers told the newspaper of the third suspect:
"Detectives called to his home on Friday but he wasn't there. He wasn't spotted over the weekend and it appears that he has fled the area."
The source also revealed that local criminals have issued online threats to the men involved. According to the Irish Independent the names of the suspects were posted online.
The victim was walking beside her bicycle and heading towards Clondalkin village after stopping at a nearby garage to pick up some items on the Ninth Lock Road near the junction with the Neilstown Road at approximately 3.20am last Thursday when she was dragged into parkland by three men.
There the victim said she was threatened with a knife and raped by at least one of the group, who fled after the attack. The woman, who is in her 30s, was then able to contact Gardaí at nearby Ronanstown Garda Station and was taken to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in the Rotunda Hospital.
A huge public response to appeals for information coupled with the gardaí's investigative work led to the arrests.
The two men arrested were questioned at Lucan Garda Station over the weekend, before being released without charge.
Contact Ronanstown Garda Station on (01) 666 7700 with any relevant information.
