A Dublin man accused of raping a woman in Ballymun on St Patrick's Night 1995 claimed he was five miles away at the time, a detective told a jury at the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
Det Garda Aindreas O'Keeffe agreed with Mr, Brendan Grogan SC, defending, that a number of witnesses confirmed the claims "to a large degree".
The man said he had spent the night socialising in Blanchardstown with a friend and had stayed the night there. There was no doubt that he had been there on that night Det Garda O'Keeffe said.
Following his arrest on April 29th, 1995, the man denied committing the rape, saying he had not been in Ballymun when the mother of three was attacked, the detective told the court.
The 28 year old man has pleaded not guilty to the rape, oral rape, attempted anal rape and aggravated sexual assault of the 35 year old woman on waste ground.
Earlier the rape victim said she picked out the accused as her attacker from an identification parade. When Mr Grogan suggested she was mistaken she replied: "No, I am positive this man raped me".
The trial before Mr Justice Flood and a jury continues.