Gardaí are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions following the rape and false imprisonment of a Spanish student in Dublin over the weekend.

The 18-year-old student was living with a host family in Dublin.

She was in the city centre on Saturday night and met a man on the boardwalk in Eden Quay.

She is interested in photography and he offered to bring her to the beach.

The area is near a nature reserve and is a popular recreation spot for joggers, dog walkers and sea swimmers.

From Eden Quay, the victim walked with the man to Store Street, and they took the Luas, alighting at The Point stop.

They then walked across the Tom Clarke (East Link) Bridge to the coast, near the Pigeon House Road.

The man then brought the teenager to a green area close to Sandymount strand, where he tied her up and repeatedly raped her throughout the night.

On Sunday morning he brought her to the beach and threatened her again before falling asleep.

This enabled her to escape and she went to a local house for help.

Gardaí at Donnybrook were notified.

The woman was taken for medical treatment and a criminal investigation commenced.

The scene was forensically examined, CCTV footage was gathered, and a number of people were interviewed.

On Monday morning, a 24-year-old man was arrested and detained at Irishtown Garda Station.

He was questioned for up 24 hours before being released without charge last night.

Gardaí say a file is being prepared as a matter of urgency for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gardaí also made contact with the woman's family in Spain and they have now arrived in Dublin and are caring for her.