A WOMAN has revealed the details of a harrowing ordeal she experienced last week when she was out for her morning walk in Santry Park in Dublin.
The 42-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, told Dublin Live that she entered the park around 7.30am last Thursday morning for her routine stroll before work.
She explained: “I was walking in the park as I do every morning before work and as I am always careful of my surroundings, I always know who is behind me.
“However last Thursday the man appeared from nowhere. I knew there was nobody behind me as I did check a few seconds before.
“And then suddenly I heard a noise like a breaking twig behind me and saw him approaching fast.
”I felt inside there was something wrong, but did not get afraid at first as I thought ‘He is in a hurry to work’, as many people are at this time every day.
“I stopped for a second as I heard birds in the lake and I turned around to see where he was and he was stood beside me with an evil-looking face, flashing his penis and masturbating.
“I froze and didn’t know what to do."
The woman tried to get away from the man, but quickly realised he was following her.
“Walking fast, I looked back and he was walking behind me, so I walked faster and so did he, so I started running, and he ran as well.
“But because I cannot run for long I looked back and saw him getting closer and closer.
“I couldn’t run any longer so stopped, turned around and started screaming ‘leave me alone’ and ‘help’ – very loud.
“I think that’s what stopped him, as he just stood there, but still masturbating.
“So I ran again, but because it was at the edge of the trees he just stood there looking my way.
“I ran and looked back a few times and he just stood there looking at me, so I stopped when I felt safe and looked at him.
“He was still there and suddenly started screaming. I didn’t hear what he was screaming; it was too far.
“So I ran again, but there were people jogging, so I felt safe and he just disappeared.”
The woman has been left badly shaken by the incident and has not returned to the park since as a result.
She added: “I actually couldn’t sleep that night and was imagining what could happen if I would have reacted differently.
“I am too scared right now to go to the park in the mornings, and will go after work when there are more people in the park.”
It is not known whether or not the Gardai are going to investigate the incident.
See More: Crime, Dublin, Ireland, Sexual Assault
