A young American tourist told a jury she jumped out of a moving car being driven up the Dublin mountains by a man she had met earlier in a Temple Bar pub.
The woman told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court the 31-year-old accused had driven her to his house earlier where she alleged he falsely imprisoned and sexually assaulted her.
She said in reply to prosecuting counsel Ms Melanie Greally BL she struggled with the accused in his house after he began groping her and tried to get out when her screams didn't draw help.
The accused has pleaded not guilty to two counts of false imprisonment, one of sexual assault and one of assault causing harm on July 29th, 1999.
The woman told how she met the accused while with friends in Temple Bar in July 1999. Both were with separate groups but found themselves alone when they moved outside and she agreed to his suggestion they go to a club.
She said afterwards he offered her a lift back to Wynn's Hotel in the city centre where she was staying. However, he drove to his house in Dalkey. When she objected to being there, the accused said he just wanted a cup of coffee and he would then take her back. He made coffee for them both and then attempted to remove her bra and grabbed at her breasts.
The woman said that in the struggle he put his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming. This caused her lips to bleed because she was wearing braces.
She said he eventually agreed to drive her back to her hotel but drove further away from the city. When he slowed his car to go around a turn, she opened her door and put both her feet out. She ran first to a service station which was closed and then to a house where residents called the garda∅.
She agreed with defence counsel Mr Patrick Gageby SC that the accused became apologetic, said it was all a misunderstanding and would take her back to town. The hearing continues.