Man 'vehemently denies' sexual abuse of his sister
A jury in the trial of a man accused of sexually abusing his sister 40 years ago have heard the man “vehemently” denied the allegations when interviewed by gardaí.
The 56-year-old man has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three counts of indecent assault and three counts of unlawful carnal knowledge of his sister at their home on dates between 1971 and 1976.
The alleged victim was aged between eight and 13 years old at the time.
Detective Garda Kevin O’Shaughnessy told Michael Durack SC, prosecuting, that he received a phone call from the complainant in March 2010 and she came in for a general conversation about the allegations.
He said she made a statement of complaint the following month and he contacted the accused man who arranged to come in for interviewed.
When it was put to the man by gardaí that his sister had alleged he sexually abused her as a child he replied: “Absolutely not, I cannot believe she has said it.”
Gardaí put it to him that he had made his sister performs sex acts on him and he replied: “Absolutely not, that’s dreadful stuff, I am absolutely gutted.”
The accused man told gardaí that he and his sister had been friends and frequently visited each other. He said none of the allegations ever happened and were “a complete fabrication.”
He denied he had been confronted by his brother about the allegations and told gardaí: “I did not admit anything because there was nothing to admit.”
Det Gda O’Shaughnessy told Mr Durack that the accused was charged the following year and in reply to charge he had variously replied “absolutely know nothing about it” and “absolutely crazy”.
Det Gda O’Shaughnessy agreed with Sean Gillane SC, defending, that the man had “vehemently denied” the allegations and had never been in trouble with gardaí.
The trial continues before Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley and a jury of four woman and eight men.
