GALWAY RAPE TRIAL ADJOURNED UNTIL MONDAY

Date Published: 06-Jun-2008

The Galway rape case at the Central Criminal Court, where the defendant is a Czech national, has been adjourned until Monday

At yesterday’s sitting a Galway woman claimed she was held up against her car and raped by a man she had kissed earlier in the night.

The 23-year-old man has pleaded NOT guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the 24-year-old woman on or about July 28, 2007 in County Galway.

The woman told prosecuting counsel Mary Ellen Ring she was with friends in a pub when a man came up behind her as she stood at the bar and put his hands up her sweater.

The complainant said they started talking when she was outside later having a cigarette and he kissed her.

He asked her to come home with him that night but she refused. When she left the pub on her own she saw the man outside and said goodbye

She said he walked her into a doorway where they kissed for a few seconds before she said she was going

She moved away from him and jumped over a fence to her car but he followed her and sexually assaulted her

She said she managed to turn around but he put her back facing the car and raped her.

Defence counsel, Diarmaid McGuinness told the jury his client admitted having sex with the woman at her car but insists it was consensual.

The trial will continue on Monday before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.