"Help help please": girl (16) tells trial she texted friend during alleged rape

A trial began at the Central Criminal Court on charges arising from an alleged rape in County Donegal in March 2016. The complainant, now aged 18, gave evidence that she was assaulted by a schoolmate she had met in a town centre takeaway after St Patrick's Day celebrations when she was 16. She described being persuaded into a secluded area where she said she was sexually assaulted and subsequently raped despite repeated refusals. The court heard text messages she sent to a friend immediately after the alleged incident, including "help help please" and reports of blood on her person. The accused man, aged 19, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. Justice Deirdre Murphy cautioned jurors against conducting independent online searches or discussing the case publicly. The trial is expected to continue until mid-week.