GARDA IN TENERIFE RAPE QUIZ; Irish girl is found with broken nose after resort attack.

A GARDA was arrested yesterday after a young Irish woman was raped and then beaten up on the holiday island of Tenerife.

The 26-year-old officer, who is based in north Dublin, is accused of raping the woman following a boozy night out with pals.

The woman was subjected to a vicious and unprovoked assault after the sexual attack and was repeatedly hit in the face, breaking her nose.

Some reports suggested her jaw was also broken. The alleged rape and battery happened after the woman became separated from her friends after the night out.

It took place in the early hours of Monday in the resort of Playa de Las Americas.

After she was raped and beaten the woman immediately made her way to the local police and reported what had happened.

She made a statement to a female officer before being examined by a doctor.

The Garda was arrested by police at his hotel in the Playa resort and taken for questioning. The victim will be now quizzed by an investigating magistrate.

The accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has already been briefly before the same magistrate who ordered police to bring him back to the court again yesterday evening.

The judge, sitting at the court in Acona, has already declared a news blackout on the case while he questions the accused and the victim.

A National Police spokesman said: “If the magistrate decides there is a case to be answered we might be allowed to give some details. But at this moment we are bound by the court order.”

A legal source on the island said: “The accused and his alleged victim were on holiday at the resort.

“Both are from Ireland. I am told that the man detained is a police officer in Dublin.

“I understand the woman received injuries to the face including a broken nose and jaw during the alleged attack.

“Rape and battery is in the same league as murder in Spanish law. A conviction could result in a prison term of 20 years.”

A Garda spokesman in Dublin said: “The Garda will be suspended from duty when he returns. The suspension will last until the trial is over.”

This latest case brings to four the number of Irish tourists arrested for rape on Tenerife this year.

Three weeks ago three Dublin men – two aged 19 and one aged 20 – were arrested and bailed after being accused of raping a 17-year-old English girl.

The three spent several days in custody before their fathers flew to arrange a defence for them.

They are alleged to have raped the girl in the gardens of a holiday complex after they had all been at a drinks party.

They have since returned to Ireland to await the next move by the court.