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Praying woman attacked at church | Praying woman attacked at church |
(20 minutes later) | |
A woman has been sexually assaulted in the grounds of a church in Londonderry. | A woman has been sexually assaulted in the grounds of a church in Londonderry. |
She had been praying inside St Columba's Long Tower Church on Easter Sunday when a man in his late teens spoke to her. | She had been praying inside St Columba's Long Tower Church on Easter Sunday when a man in his late teens spoke to her. |
He struck up a casual conversation with her, but when she left he followed her and then attacked her outside the church. | He struck up a casual conversation with her, but when she left he followed her and then attacked her outside the church. |
Fr Roland Colhoun from Long Tower said only the woman's presence of mind saved her from a more horrific attack. | Fr Roland Colhoun from Long Tower said only the woman's presence of mind saved her from a more horrific attack. |
"She was a very brave girl and very quick-thinking, because she had a very speedy reaction of self-defence," Fr Colhoun said. | |
"She screamed and fought him off by putting her fingers into his eyes and he took to his heels and ran off. | |
"It could have been quite a serious assault, but because of her quick thinking she drew it to a close very quickly." | |
Details of the incident have only just been released by the police. The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information to contact them. | Details of the incident have only just been released by the police. The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information to contact them. |