Latest: Man arrested over rape in Peatlands Park Dungannon

Police at the scene of a serious incident at Peatlands Park, Dungannon.

Photo: Mark Winter / Pacemaker Press — Police at the scene of a serious incident at Peatlands Park, Dungannon. Photo: Mark Winter / Pacemaker Press

The woman was walking her dog on an isolated path in Peatlands Park at about 2.45pm on Wednesday when she was assaulted.

On Friday monring, Detective Inspector Lynne Knox said: “Detectives investigating a serious sexual assault on a woman in the Peatlands Park area of Dungannon on Wednesday, 27 April have arrested a 23 year old man.

“He is currently in police custody.”

The PSNI described it as an “appalling attack”, and said the man who attacked her fled the scene on a black mountain bike.

The DUP’s Lord Morrow said the assault has sent shockwaves around Dungannon: “Peatlands Park is an extremely popular area for walkers,” he said. “A lot of people use it for morning walks and jogging. It is just immediately off the M1 close to the Loughgall intersection.”

Lord Morrow said the incident has “caused a deep shadow across the whole community”.

Peatlands Park is managed by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. A DoE spokesman said: “In over 30 years of managing the country park this is the first such incident. Our thoughts are with the lady concerned and her family.”