Gardai are appealing for witnesses after a young girl was attacked in the Monksland area of Athlone on Monday this week.
The girl, who was walking in the River Village area of Monksland at around 6pm on Monday, was attacked and physically assaulted by a male. She managed to free herself from the man, who was not known to her, and alerted Gardai.
A short time later Gardai arrested a 27-year-old man in Athlone town centre in connection with the incident. He was not from the locality.
The man was detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and was questioned at Athlone Garda Station. He was released on Tuesday afternoon and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecution.
Anyone who witnessed the attack or any suspicious activity in the area between approximately 5 and 6pm on Monday is asked to contact Athlone Gardai at (090 ) 6492600.
