Courts / Dublin / Report

Homeless woman tells trial that accused "laughed and smirked" while his friend raped her

Summary

A trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court involving two Dublin men, aged 27 and 40, who have pleaded not guilty to raping a woman in a room at the George Frederic Handel Hotel, Fishamble Street, in the early hours of March 27, 2012. The complainant, a homeless woman who was 22 at the time, testified that one accused physically raped her while the other looked on, laughing and smirking. She alleged the second man threatened to throw her out of a window if she reported the incident to gardaí. Prosecuting counsel Pauline Walley SC argued that the second accused was as much a perpetrator as the man who physically penetrated her. The complainant described how she met the men in a pub, helped them find a hotel room, and was subsequently pushed onto a bed and held down. Under cross-examination by Feargal Kavanagh SC, she acknowledged a history of substance use, including benzodiazepam, and admitted to hugging one accused in CCTV footage while searching for accommodation. The court heard that the first accused told gardaí the woman had consented, a claim she denied. The matter is currently before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of eight men and four women, with the trial continuing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Homeless woman tells trial that accused "laughed and smirked" while his friend raped her. Charges or matters: raping the woman in a room at the George Frederic Handel Hotel, Fishamble Street in the early hours of March 27, 2012. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• March 27, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2015-06-05 Publication

Why: The two women left alone around midnight but they met the two accused again because the men asked for help getting a hotel room for the night. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Pubs And Nightclubs Sexual Offences Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report