Dublin man acquitted of rape after trial collapses

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The unnamed Dublin man was acquitted of rape at the Central Criminal Court on 4 July 2019 after the complainant left for England during cross-examination.

The man had been aged 15 when it was alleged he raped his then girlfriend at a park near his home in August 2014. He had pleaded not guilty.

Ms Justice Carmel Stewart directed the jury to acquit him after the court was told the complainant could not be contacted. The case had previously been allowed to proceed despite a High Court finding that prosecution delays were inexcusable and blameworthy.