Courts / Dublin / Report
Family give evidence in defence of woman accused of sexually abusing cousin
Summary
In the Central Criminal Court, a 20‑year‑old Dublin woman pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape involving her younger cousin aged 10‑11 between July 2017 and July 2019. She is accused of penetrating the girl with a hairbrush. The prosecution alleges the abuse began before the accused turned 12, with the girls allegedly sleeping over in each other's homes or a mutual aunt's house. Family members of both parties testified that the girls were not close friends and that no sleepovers occurred in the grandmother's house. The grandmother, aunts, uncles, and the accused's mother all denied the alleged sleepovers and stated the girls were different and not particularly friendly. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Family give evidence in defence of woman accused of sexually abusing cousin. Charges or matters: 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape of the girl in various addresses in Dublin on dates between July 2017 and July 2019; penetrating the girl with a hairbrush. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- July 2017 Incident
- July 2019 Incident
- 2017 to 2019 Other
- 2025-04-07 Publication
Why: When asked by defence counsel if she would ever lie under oath in order to help her older grand-daughter, the woman said: "I do not lie and I am telling the truth. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: 11 counts of sexual assault and one count of section 4 rape of the girl in various addresses in Dublin on dates between July 2017 and July 2019; penetrating the girl with a hairbrush (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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