Mother raped in front of children
A young mother has been raped while out walking near Bessbrook, Co Armagh, with her two children.
Police said the 23-year-old was walking in Derramore Woods on Saturday afternoon when she noticed a man with a dog following her.
As she approached an area known as the Bridge he attacked her.
Police said the man was in his 50s, with white hair and was wearing a beret and a dark-coloured jacket. He was walking a white dog with a tartan coat.
The man ran off when one of the children began to cry, police added.
They have appealed for anyone who may have been in the wood at around 4.45pm on Saturday to contact them.
Ulster Unionist Assembly member Danny Kennedy said: ``I can confirm that the entire Bessbrook community is both shocked and outraged at this sickening attack. My thoughts and the thoughts of everyone are obviously with the victim and her family.''
SDLP Assembly member Dominic Bradley said: “People in the Newry area are sickened to the core at this appalling attack on a young mother as she walked in broad daylight with her children.
“It is vital that everything possible is now done to catch the perpetrator of this heinous crime and I strongly appeal to anyone with information to pass it onto the police immediately.”
