Courts / Ireland / Report
Court in 'new territory' as sign language interpretation teams assist in rape trial
Summary
The Central Criminal Court trial of seven men accused of sexually abusing a deaf family member is proceeding with extensive sign language interpretation support. The complainant, giving evidence via videolink, is assisted by an Irish Sign Language interpreter, a deaf relay, and an intermediary linguistics expert. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs informed the jury that the court is in "new territory," noting that monitoring interpreter teams will alert the court to translation errors. The trial, expected to last four months, involves 98 counts of abuse alleged to have occurred between 1996 and 2013. All defendants deny the charges. Accused A, a 55-year-old uncle, faces one count of rape. Accused B, another uncle, is accused of eight counts of rape, oral rape, and anal rape. Accused C, a 34-year-old brother, faces 45 counts of rape and anal rape against the complainant, plus additional charges of sexual assault, rape, and anal rape against two other sisters. Accused D, 33, pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of rape and three of anal rape. Accused E, 32, denied nine counts of anal rape and seven of rape. Accused F, also 32, denied five counts of rape and anal rape. Accused G, 45, denied one count of rape. The matter is currently at the trial stage.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court in 'new territory' as sign language interpretation teams assist in rape trial. Charges or matters: one count of sexual assault in relation to one sister, Complainant 2, on a date between 2005 and 2006 when she was a child; 19 charges of rape and three counts of anal rape. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- December 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2008 Other
- December 2010 Other
- 1996 and 2013 Other
- 2001 and 2013 Incident
- 2005 and 2006 Incident
- 2016 and 2019 Incident
- 2013 and 2014 Incident
- 2002 and 2013 Incident
- 2003 and 2011 Incident
- 2007 and 2010 Incident
- 1996 and 1997 Incident
- 2025-11-04 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: one count of sexual assault in relation to one sister, Complainant 2, on a date between 2005 and 2006 when she was a child; 19 charges of rape and three counts of anal rape (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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