It is believed that four serious sexual assaults have been carried out in the area over the last month, and gardai are investigating the possibility that the attacks may be linked. A female victim is believed to have been raped in at least one of the incidents.

Gardai this weekend refused to comment, except to confirm that they were investigating a series of incidents. However, the Sunday Tribune understands that door-to-door inquiries have taken place in the area over the last number of weeks.

Four incidents have been reported to gardai since the first week of October. Each is believed to have been carried out between 3am and 5am, and in each incident, a woman was attacked by a man who had been hiding.

In at least one case, the female victim was raped by a man brandishing a glass bottle. It is believed that the attacker had been hiding in a laneway prior to the incident.

Green Party TD John Gormley confirmed that the issue had been raised by constituents and that there was concern in the area over the assaults. Gardai have so far refused to comment on whether the attacks may be linked.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that gardai have placed under 24-hour surveillance the man they believe assaulted two young girls in Swords last weekend. The man, in his 20s, is from the area and was interviewed by gardai last week.