Rape trial reaches concluding stages
The trial of a Corkman accused of raping a 12-year-old girl has reached its concluding stages at the Central Criminal Court.
Both prosecuting counsel, Mr John Edwards SC, and defence counsel, Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC, have addressed the jury following the conclusion of evidence on day-five of the trial.
Mr Justice Paul Carney is expected to address the jury tomorrow.
The accused, now 39-years-old, told the jury the girl kissed him when he fell on her bed accidentally and she, her family, and gardai had framed him with allegations of rape.
He said any admissions of sexual contact between him and the girl attributed to him were fabricated by gardai.
He has pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the girl on dates unknown in the summer of 1995 when she was babysitting in a flat directly above his in a Cork suburb.
The now-19-year-old girl told the court on day-1 of the trial that the accused, who lived on the floor directly above her sister's, sexually assaulted and raped her while she was alone with her nephews.
The hearing has been adjourned until Monday due to other commitments at the Central Criminal Court.
