The mother of a now 22-year-old woman who claims she was raped as a child by her uncle has told a jury that her daughter warned her not to do anything about it because she was afraid. The witness told Mr Gerard Clarke SC, prosecuting, she had been told by her daughter's school-friend that something had happened to her with her uncle. She asked her daughter if her brother-in-law had put his hands on her and she said he had.
She questioned her daughter again later and her daughter replied she was not to bring the matter any further or she would deny it all because she was afraid.
A 46-year-old Co Offaly farmer denies two charges in the Central Criminal Court of raping the girl and five charges of indecently assaulting her from 1987 to 1989.
The alleged victim's mother told Mr Clarke her daughter had been lively and outgoing as a young child but she became withdrawn and would not play with other children anymore. A teacher was also surprised by the change in her and organised remedial teaching for her.
Her daughter had often stayed on her own with the defendant's family but stopped that at a certain point. She would visit his house only with the rest of the family and refused to stay over.
The witness said she recalled a visit by the defendant and members of his family to her home about a year ago. Her daughter "just flipped" and ran out of the house to her friend nearby.
Cross-examined by Mr Barry White SC, defending, the witness said she had not been told by her daughter's friend what the defendant allegedly did. She later read her daughter's journal without her permission.
The hearing continues before Mr Justice Carney and a jury.