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Gang rape accused told gardai he would tell complainant 'sorry, try to forgive us'

Summary

The trial of four men accused of raping a 17-year-old girl on December 27, 2016, continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury at the Central Criminal Court. The defendants, aged 17 to 19 at the time, have pleaded not guilty to charges including rape, sexual assault, and false imprisonment. A fifth man is not before the court. On day 13, the jury heard evidence from the arrest and interview of a third defendant, now 24. During questioning, he alleged the complainant consented, stating she initiated sex and did not resist. However, he later admitted to gardaí that he and the others "took advantage" of the teenager and acknowledged it was "wrong." He expressed regret, stating he would tell the complainant, "sorry, try to forgive us." The defendant also admitted to lying about how the complainant entered the vehicle, claiming he was afraid. He stated that the group had agreed to tell the truth to gardaí. Evidence included a Snapchat message sent at 5am, whose contents could not be retrieved. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gang rape accused told gardai he would tell complainant 'sorry, try to forgive us'. Charges or matters: raping the then 17-year-old girl on the night of December 27, 2016; rape; sexual assault; false imprisonment. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• December 27, 2016 Incident
• March 2017 Incident
• 2022-03-29 Publication

Why: He said two more men had sex with her but that a fifth accused, who is on trial, didn't because the men got back into the car and locked him out. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Read the original CNI report