Courts / Ireland / Report

Rape accused denies being abusive to gardai in courtroom

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 June 2016, a 42‑year‑old man accused of raping and assaulting his wife denied any abusive conduct towards Gardaí who passed him in the courtroom. He had spent the seventh day of his trial giving evidence in his own defence, where he denied raping, threatening and head‑butting his wife during a marital breakdown in 2014. He had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014 and expressed deep remorse. Prosecutor Mary Rose Gearty SC questioned him about allegedly calling the Gardaí "you fucker"; he denied this and claimed the officers had broken two of his ribs during his arrest. He also denied other alleged acts such as head‑butting, threatening to cut her face, and lying on top of her to rape her. The unnamed 42 year old pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Rape accused denies being abusive to gardai in courtroom. Charges or matters: assaulting his wife with a hammer in August of that year; rape, assault causing harm and five counts of threats to kill or cause serious harm between May 24 and August 1, 2014; a count of assaulting his wife with a hammer in August 2014. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• May 24 Incident
• August 1, 2014 Incident
• August 2014 Incident
• 2016-06-22 Publication

Why: He said he felt under pressure while being interviewed because of his injuries and because he had never been arrested before. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Sexual Offences Stage Trial

Read the original CNI report