Courts / Donegal / Report

Rape complainant moaning and saying "harder", friend tells trial

Date
2019-10-16

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Donegal

County
Donegal

Summary

A trial at the Central Criminal Court has heard evidence concerning allegations of rape against two men from County Donegal in February 2015. The complainant, a college student at the time, has alleged she was raped by the defendants following a night out. Both men, now aged 29 and 33, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape. During the trial, a friend of the complainant gave evidence describing events in an apartment after the group accepted a lift from the defendants. The witness told the jury she recalled the complainant making certain utterances during sexual activity and described her own experience of unwanted physical contact from one of the men. The complainant previously testified she was too intoxicated to consent. Defence counsel questioned the complainant's account of her level of intoxication, citing her detailed recollection of her route home and suggesting inconsistencies in her statements to gardaí regarding her awareness of events. Garda witnesses also gave evidence during the proceedings.