27-year-old Dublin man’s rape trial counsel apologises

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

A barrister defending a 27-year-old Dublin man accused of rape apologised to the complainant during questioning. The proceedings were reported on 8 June 2015.

The man and his co-accused, a 40-year-old Dublin man, have pleaded not guilty to charges of rape.

The first man is alleged to have raped the woman at the George Frederic Handel Hotel, Fishamble Street, Dublin, in the early hours of 27 March 2012. His co-accused allegedly watched and threatened her if she reported the attack to gardaí.

On day three of the trial, Feargal Kavanagh SC, defending the first man, questioned the woman about alleged “promiscuity”. He also asked about decorating her private parts with glitter stickers, before apologising for using the word “promiscuity”.

The woman testified that she helped the men obtain a hotel room but did not intend to stay or have sex. She said the first man raped her while the second laughed and smirked.

Mr Kavanagh put his client’s position that the sex was consensual and that she became upset after learning he was married. She denied that account.

Conor Devally SC, defending the second man, suggested his client had showered while the other two were about to have sex, and that a subsequent row left her feeling humiliated. She denied his version of events.

The trial was continuing before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of eight men and four women.