12/03/2010

'Sick' Rape Revisited In Court

A 45-year-old man is alleged to have admitted to gardaí in interview that he had sex with his own son's girlfriend after offering her a lift home.

He has claimed she "came onto" him however and denies in court raping her.

He told gardaí it was a "sick" situation and said he was "totally confused and stressed" but has pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the then 18-year-old woman on August 13, 2006, in Co Wexford.

The jury spent a second day yesterday watching a video recording of the interview - where the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons - was questioned in the garda station the morning after the alleged rape took place.

Gardai asked him if it was wrong to have sex with his son's girlfriend and he replied that it was wrong but "seemed right at the time".

The unnamed man said he had "no idea" why she alleged he raped her as soon as she got home. He claimed they both wanted to have sex with each other and she seemed more eager than him.

He said he "could not get his head around" why she would accuse him of rape and denied a suggestion by the gardaí that "one reason might be because she is telling the plain simple truth".

The prosecution have finished calling evidence after three days of witnesses. The trial continues before Mr Justice George Birmingham and a jury of eight men and four women.

(BMcC/GK)

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