Irish rugby fan kidnapped and raped while in Bordeaux for the World Cup was found in a distressed condition on the street by Welsh supporters, it has emerged as the manhunt for her attackers continues
An Irish rugby fan who was allegedly kidnapped and raped by three men while in Bordeaux for the World Cup was found in a distressed condition on the street by Welsh supporters.
The 37-year-old woman was allegedly attacked around midnight on Saturday in the Rue de la Rousselle in the city center, near where she was staying, reports said.
French police are continuing their manhunt for the three men alleged to have carried out the barbaric attack, with one of the suspects described as ‘very athletic’.
The woman was walking near her accommodation when she was allegedly attacked and dragged into an alley, reports say. According to Le Parisienshe was also driven into a car by the men, but did not leave the Saint-Paul district.
Local residents alerted the police, but the suspects still had time to flee.
The victim was reportedly discovered in a distressed condition on the street by a group of Welsh fans who had been in the French city to attend their opening match against Fiji, the newspaper said. Irish independent.
An Irish rugby fan was kidnapped and then raped by three men while in Bordeaux to watch her national team in the World Cup (file image of Irish fans in Bordeaux)
The woman was able to return to her accommodation but was in shock and initially unable to report the attack to French police, who found her “traumatized and stretched out”, police said. L’Independant.
French officers called their Irish colleagues who were in town as reinforcement for the ongoing Rugby World Cup, which is being hosted by France.
The woman is said to have been in town to watch Ireland play Romania in the tournament. She was treated by the Irish officers before being taken to Bordeaux University Hospital.
Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the alleged rape and police are said to be looking for three white men, one of whom is described as “very athletic.”
“The investigations are ongoing and in particular the genetic examination of the victim and clothing, the collection of testimonies and the investigation of the video surveillance of the neighborhood,” police told Le Parisien in a statement.
A Garda spokesman said: ‘Members of An Garda Síochána who are currently deployed to France for the duration of the Rugby World Cup tournament to assist Irish people visiting France are liaising with local authorities in relation to an alleged incident. The investigation is a matter for the French police.
‘An Garda Síochána has no further comment at this time.’
A spokesperson for the Irish Rugby Football Union said: ‘The IRFU is aware of the disturbing news emerging from Bordeaux regarding an incident involving an Irish supporter last weekend.
“We are shocked and express our deepest condolences to the victim.
‘The IRFU wants all fans to have a positive experience supporting the team in France and we urge all travelers to be careful and look out for each other.’