Man begins Central Criminal Court rape trial

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

A man began a trial for rape at the Central Criminal Court, reported on 18 November 2015. The alleged rape, sexual assault and sex with a mentally impaired person were said to have occurred in his Dublin city-centre flat on 12 June 2013. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges. The prosecution alleged that the woman, who has Down syndrome, became separated from her mother while jogging before being brought to the flat. The defence position was that sexual contact was consensual and that he did not know she was mentally impaired.

The jury was told it would hear evidence about the woman’s capacity to consent, including expert psychological evidence. The trial was due to resume with evidence on the following Monday after legal argument, according to the report.