Jury see video of man accused of raping son's girlfriend
A Wexford man accused of raping his son's girlfriend admitted to gardaí it was a “sick” situation and said he was “totally confused and stressed”.
The 45-year-old man admitted to gardaí in interview that he had sex with the girl after offering her a lift home but claims she “came onto” him and denies raping her.
He has pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the then 18-year-old woman on August 13, 2006, in Co Wexford.
The jury spent a second day watching a video recording of the accused’s interview in the garda station the morning after the alleged rape took place.
Gardai asked him if it was wrong to have sex with his son’s girlfriend and he replied that it was wrong but “seemed right at the time”.
He said he had “no idea” why she alleged he raped her as soon as she got home. He claimed they both wanted to have sex with each other and she seemed more eager than him.
He said he “could not get his head around” why she would accuse him of rape and denied a suggestion by the gardaí that “one reason might be because she is telling the plain simple truth”.
When asked if he had a reputation as a “ladies man” he said he got on well with women and found them easier to talk to than men. He said he thought women were better listeners and he was more likely to “open up to a woman”.
The prosecution have finished calling evidence after three days of witnesses. The trial continues before Mr Justice George Birmingham and a jury of eight men and four women.
