Garda warning over ‘flasher’ on the prowl in Galway
From this week's Galway City Tribune - Gardaí have advised the public to make an immediate 999 call if they are confronted by a ‘flasher’ in the city – the warning comes after a man exposed himself to a woman as she walked to work last weekend.
The woman told the Galway City Tribune that the incident happened at around 6.55am on last Saturday morning as she was walking to work along the Sandy Road going in the direction of the Headford Road.
She said that she spotted the man – possibly in his 20s or 30s – crossing the road from a nearby estate before letting down his trousers and engaging in a sexual act on himself.
“He just jumped out in front of me from an estate on the left-hand side. I was shocked – it was quite horrible. I shouted at him, took out my phone, and told him that I was ringing the guards. He then ran off in the direction of the Liosbán estate,” the woman told this newspaper.
She said that she immediately rang Gardaí to inform them of the incident who said that they would try and get a car [Garda vehicle] into the area as soon as possible.
She said that the man appeared to be in the ‘youngish’ age bracket – possibly 20s to 30s – was wearing glasses and was dressed in dark-coloured clothing.
Unconfirmed reports of similar incidents have emerged on social media in the Tirellan area.
A spokesperson for the Gardaí confirmed to the Galway City Tribune that the incident had been reported to them, adding that they took an ‘extremely serious view’ of any such behaviour.
“If any woman, or any other person, is confronted with such a situation, our advice is to dial 999 immediately. Do not hesitate to ring the emergency number – it is simply the right thing to do, in what are very frightening situations,” said the Garda spokesperson.
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