A rape charge against a Wicklow man has been dropped after the alleged victim refused to give evidence against him. The 29-year-old man had pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting her on May 18th, 1998. A jury had been sworn in for the trial at the Central Criminal Court.
Mr Andrew Bradley SC, prosecuting, called the 24-year-old woman to testify but she refused to leave her seat. Mr Justice McCracken directed the jury to return verdicts of not guilty and told the man he was free to leave.