A Co Kilkenny teenager has told a jury at the Central Criminal Court that her uncle raped her once when she was about 10 years old and that he sexually assaulted her many times.
Her 60-year-old uncle has pleaded not guilty to one charge of raping the girl on a date unknown between October 27th and November 2nd, 1990, in Co Kilkenny.
He also pleads not guilty to four charges of indecently assaulting and 10 charges of sexually assaulting the same girl on dates from July 1st, 1990, to June 10th, 1993.
After assaulting her, he told her to go to bed after telling her nobody would believe her if she said what happened.
Pressed by defence counsel, Mr John O'Kelly SC, about what he claimed were inconsistencies in her evidence, the girl cried out: "I'm telling the truth. This did happen. It's not a bad story and it's not lies."
Shortly after the afternoon hearing began, Mr Justice Carney told the jury he was not satisfied the girl was breathing comfortably and he adjourned the hearing. The trial continues today.