Courts / Dublin / Report

Rape accused had sleep-walking problem since youth, mother tells jury

Date
2016-10-05

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In the trial of a 29‑year‑old man accused of raping a 22‑year‑old friend in a Dublin flat on 28 September 2008, the defendant pleaded not guilty. He claimed he had been sleep‑walking at the time of the alleged offence. The complainant, who was a platonic friend, described how she had slept in the flat after a night out, woke an hour and a half later to find the accused on top of her with his penis inside her. She initially did not report the incident, hoping he would receive help, but later changed her mind after feeling he was not taking it seriously. She testified that she had spoken to a garda about the complaint process and had received advice that victims might regret reporting. The defendant's mother testified that he had a long‑standing sleep‑walking problem and had been searching for "sleep sex" online in the days after the alleged offence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Rape accused had sleep-walking problem since youth, mother tells jury. Charges or matters: one count of raping the woman at an apartment in Dublin in the early hours of September 28, 2008. Procedural stage: trial

When: