Police issue fresh pictures of man who raped and tried to kill 8-year-old girl in Newry

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This is the face of a man wanted for the brutal rape and attempted murder of an eight-year-old girl 20 years ago.

The youngster was attacked, tied to a tree and left for dead in Newry, Co Down – just miles from Dundalk.

On Monday, 20 years on, the PSNI launched a fresh appeal to catch the sex beast, who carried out the attack in 1994.

I140609_165812_1936572oTextCS_63616819The survivor of the attack is now 28 and officers have assured her they will continue their probe to catch the pervert.

The victim had been playing with a seven-year-old boy in a wooded area within Daisy Hill Nursery at Barcroft Community Centre when she was attacked.

The man, who is believed to have been in his late teens or early 20s, asked the children to help find his brother.

The youngsters went with him but were separated in woodland behind the centre where the girl was subjected to a prolonged and violent sexual assault.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the horrific incident the PSNI have released two new images of the suspect who is now aged around 40.

Detectives are appealing to members of the public who may have information and have not already contacted police to phone the inquiry team.

They would like to hear from anyone who came forward in 1994 but has not made contact with police since.

Detectives are also keen to identify the couple who met the boy who had been with the victim.

And they want to speak with two young males who had been playing at the Community Centre on the day – June 19, 1994.

Anyone with information is asked to call the PSNI Serious Crime Branch on 028 3836 6274 or Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

An RUC officer involved in the initial investigation described the incident as “shocking”.

Independent councillor Jackie Patterson said: “It is vital that somebody is brought to justice.”

Source: Irish Daily Mirror