Courts / Ireland / Report

Judge thanks rape complainant for 'three and a half months of answering questions"

Summary

A woman who alleges she was sexually abused by seven of her family members has completed giving evidence after over three months in the witness box. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs expressed gratitude to the woman for her three and a half months of answering questions. The woman began giving evidence via video link in October and provided her testimony to prosecution counsel before being cross-examined by seven defence counsel representing the accused men. Roisin Lacey SC, prosecuting, informed the woman that the prosecution would not be re-examining her. The trial, which began four and a half months ago, is now entering a new phase with further four weeks of evidence expected. Seven men, aged between 32 and 55, are on trial for 103 charges, with 98 counts related to the main complainant. They are her four younger brothers and three uncles, accused of sexually abusing her over a 17-year period between 1996 and 2013. The woman gave evidence via video-link with the assistance of interpreters and an intermediary. Charts and symbols were used to help her communicate. The unnamed 55-year-old pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Judge thanks rape complainant for 'three and a half months of answering questions". 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
• 1996 and 2013 Other
• 2001 and 2013 Incident
• 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
• 2026-02-20 Publication

Case subjects

Topics

Stage Trial

Read the original CNI report