Courts / Ireland / Report
Defence counsel tells family abuse complainant allegations 'hard to believe' because they are not true
Summary
A woman who was allegedly sexually abused by seven of her family members has been told by defence counsel that her allegations against one brother are 'hard to believe' because they are not true. Karl Finnegan SC, defending Accused C, cross-examined the complainant, who is deaf, and suggested that she had told different stories to gardai and the jury. The woman, who is giving evidence via video-link and through interpreters, has told gardai that she was raped by Accused C when she was seven years old. Defence counsel argued that this was not possible as Accused C would have been four at the time. The trial continues with seven men on trial for a combined total of 103 charges, including sexual abuse against the complainant and two of her younger sisters. The court has heard that the complainant has challenges communicating timelines and that the trial is being conducted with the assistance of interpreters and symbols. The unnamed 55-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Defence counsel tells family abuse complainant allegations 'hard to believe' because they are not true. Charges or matters: 19 charges of rape and three counts of anal rape; one count of sexual assault in relation to one sister, Complainant 2, on a date between 2005 and 2006 when she was a child. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- December 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2008 Other
- December 2010 Other
- 2001 and 2013 Incident
- 1996 and 2013 Other
- 2002 and 2013 Incident
- 2003 and 2011 Incident
- 2007 and 2010 Incident
- 1996 and 1997 Incident
- 2005 and 2006 Incident
- 2016 and 2019 Incident
- 2013 and 2014 Incident
- 2026-01-30 Publication
Why: A woman who was allegedly sexually abused by seven of her family members has been told her allegations against one brother are "hard to believe" because they are not true. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: 19 charges of rape and three counts of anal rape; one count of sexual assault in relation to one sister, Complainant 2, on a date between 2005 and 2006 when she was a child (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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