A man in his 60s has been arrested in connection with a serious sexual assault during an aggravated burglary in south Dublin 23 years ago.
The incident happened on March 31, 2003, when a woman was assaulted at her home in Kilmacud.
According to reports, the man, who was around 40 at the time, allegedly posed as a cable television technician before forcing his way into the house.
He allegedly bound the woman with plastic ties and sexually assaulted her while threatening her with a knife. Her young baby was in the house at the time of the attack.
An extensive Garda investigation was carried out following the incident, with hundreds of investigative jobs completed and more than 100 statements taken. However, no suspect was arrested at the time.
Gardaí continued to maintain an open investigation into the case over the following years.
In 2023, a peer review of the investigation was commenced by a fresh investigation team attached to the DMR East Serious Crime Unit under a senior investigating officer.
The review ultimately led to a breakthrough in the long-running investigation.
The man was arrested by investigating Gardaí on Wednesday morning and is currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region.
Gardaí said the investigation remains ongoing.
“An Garda Síochána have continued to maintain an open investigation into this serious assault,” a Garda statement said.
The arrest comes more than two decades after the woman was attacked at her home in Kilmacud.
