INVESTIGATION INTO RAPE REPORTS SAID TO INVOLVE DRUGGING

GARDAI are investigating reports that a number of women were drugged and
raped and at least two men died from heart attacks after being given
similar drugs.

All the reported attacks took place in the small north Mayo area of
Bonniconlon over the past four years.

According to the reports a number of elderly women living alone in the
north Mayo area were given a potion to drink by a man they knew who was
visiting their homes.

They are reported to have become unconscious, and according to some reports
the drink was laced with a drug similar to the date rape one, Rohypnol.

Inspector Michael Hussy of Ballina Garda Station verified that the gardai
investigation into the alleged doping of several women in the Bonniconlon
area of Mayo was continuing and a file was being prepared for the Director
of Public Prosecutions.

The senior Garda officer, however, dismissed what he termed as rumours, the
reports suggesting the bodies of two men from the same area as the women,
who died suddenly in 1994 and 1996, would be exhumed so that new autopsies
could be carried out.

The men were neighbours who worked on the same farm at one time. At the
time of their deaths, verdicts were returned in both cases that they died
of heart attacks, but locals speculate now these might have been brought on
by their being given drugs. Despite Inspector Hussy's denial that any
exhumations are planned, a Garda spokesperson confirmed that a fresh look
was being taken into their files, but there was no evidence at this stage
of any foul play.

It is thought the relatives of the dead men are unwilling or think it is
unnecessary that the graves should be opened.

Rumours have been sweeping the north Mayo area since the recent arrest of a
man on rape charges. The suspect was arrested after a man entered a woman's
home on the pretext that he was wet, and wanted to dry his clothes.

The woman was attacked and later raised the alarm by ringing the gardai.
The suspect, who has been remanded and is due in court early in the New
Year, was taken in for questioning.

The man had no criminal record, but a search of his property revealed items
which gardai say were suspicious.

Complaints by a number of women living in the Bonniconlon area that they
were made unconscious by a liquid given to them by a male visitor, are
being strenuously investigated.

"There are a lot of rumours going around but I can confirm that we are
investigating reports that a number of women living alone had something put
in their drinks by a male visitor.

"Our investigations are ongoing and we will be preparing material for the
DPP on the matter," Inspector Hussy said last night.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski