Uncle denies going near woman who alleges he raped her

An uncle of a woman who alleges she was sexually abused by seven family members told gardai he “never went near her”, a Central Criminal Court trial has heard.

Seven men, aged between 32 and 55, are on trial in relation to a combined total of 103 charges against them – of which 98 counts pertain to the main complainant, who is deaf. They are her four younger brothers and three uncles.

They are accused of sexually abusing her at various stages over a 17-year period between 1996 and 2013 and deny any wrongdoing. One of the men is further accused of sexually abusing two of his younger sisters, who are also sisters of the primary complainant.

None of the parties involved can be named for legal reasons.

The trial, which has been sitting for nearly six months, is hearing transcripts of garda interviews with the accused men.

Today, Roisin Lacey SC, prosecuting, read memos of garda interviews with the main complainant’s uncle, referred to as Accused B.

This man, aged 48, is accused of eight counts comprising rape, oral rape and anal rape of the complainant on dates between December 2008 and December 2010.

The man said he got on well with the complainant and confirmed that she had lived with him and his parents for a period of time.

He denied the allegations to gardaí, saying he never touched the complainant. “I never went near her, that’s the truth,” he said.

The man agreed the complainant was a “truthful, honest person” and said she always tells the truth. When asked by gardai if the only thing the woman was not telling the truth about was the allegation he raped her, he once again replied: “I didn't go near her.”

When asked why the complainant would make an allegation like this, he replied: “I don’t know what is going through her head.”

He said the allegations were not true and he “never went near the girl and never harmed her”.

He told gardaí he would sometimes go drinking “in the woods” but denied he ever came home drunk and “tried something” with the complainant.

“Is it possible it happened and you haven't a clear memory,” gardai asked, to which the man replied: “No, I didn't try anything.”

At the end of one interview, gardaí put it to the man: “So you describe (the complainant) as an honest, truthful person who doesn’t tell lies, but she’s not telling the truth about you?”

“Yes,” he replied.

The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and an extended jury panel of 13.

Accused A – the woman's 55-year-old uncle - is accused of a single count of raping her on a date between December 2009 and April 2011. He has denied the charge.

Accused B (48) – another uncle - is accused of eight counts comprising rape, oral rape and anal rape of the complainant on dates between December 2008 and December 2010. He has denied the charges.

Four of her younger brothers are also accused of sexually abusing her over varying periods of time. 

Accused C (34) is accused of 45 counts – 22 of rape and 23 counts of anally raping her over a 12- year period between 2001 and 2013.

Accused D (33) is accused of 22 counts of sexually abusing his sister over an 11-year period on dates between 2002 and 2013. He has pleaded not guilty to 19 charges of rape and three counts of anal rape.

Accused E (32) is accused of 16 counts of sexual abuse against his sister over an eight-year period between 2003 and 2011. He has denied nine counts of anal rape and seven counts of raping her.

Another brother, Accused F (also 32), has denied five counts – three counts of anal rape and two counts of raping his sister on dates between 2007 and 2010.

A third uncle, Accused G (45), has denied a single count of raping her on a date between 1996 and 1997.

Accused C is further charged with the sexual abuse of two of his younger sisters. He is charged with one count of sexual assault in relation to one sister, Complainant 2, on a date between 2005 and 2006 when she was a child. He is also charged with two counts of rape and one of anal rape of this woman on dates between 2016 and 2019.

He is also charged with one count of anally raping a third sister, Complainant 3, on dates between 2013 and 2014.