The final stages have been reached in the trial of a Dublin man who has denied raping a teenage neighbour in his car shortly after they met and kissed on the street near their homes. The jury was addressed on the fifth day of the trial by Ms Miriam Reynolds SC, prosecuting, and by Mr John Phelan SC, defending. It will retire today to consider its verdict after Mr Justice Carney concludes his charge.
The man (25) has pleaded not guilty to rape in a Dublin suburb on September 15th, 1996. He said he and the alleged victim kissed "passionately" on the street near their homes shortly after they met at about 3 a.m. on September 15th, 1996. He said he invited her to come with him in his car to somewhere quieter and that she made no objections to his advances which he claimed culminated in consensual sexual intercourse. The only time she said no was when he asked for oral sex. He also claimed she asked him to tell nobody and denied it was he who asked her to keep it secret. He said he did not understand why she alleged later he had raped her.