Courts / Donegal / Report
21-year-old man acquitted of Donegal rape
Summary
A 21-year-old man has been acquitted at the Central Criminal Court of rape allegations arising from an incident in Donegal Town in July 2012. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial heard evidence that the complainant and the accused, both aged 18 at the time, engaged in consensual sexual contact in an alleyway before the allegation arose. The defence case centred on the position that the accused ceased sexual contact immediately when the woman expressed her wishes. The jury was shown footage of the accused's garda interview, during which issues relating to the interviewing garda's conduct were raised. Mr Justice Tony Hunt addressed the jury following the verdict, acknowledging the difficulty inherent in cases where consensual activity is alleged to have become non-consensual. The woman wept as the acquittal was delivered. The judge noted that both parties had likely endured considerable hardship pending trial conclusion.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 21-year-old man acquitted of Donegal rape. Charges or matters: rape of the woman in the alleyway of a Donegal town in July 2012. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- July 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-02-26 Publication
Why: " During cross-examination Shane Costelloe SC, defending, put it to the now 22-year-old woman that she made up a story about being raped because she was embarrassed when friends asked her about a blood stain on her dress afterwards. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: rape of the woman in the alleyway of a Donegal town in July 2012 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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