GALWAY RAPE TRIAL HEARS EVIDENCE FROM PUBLICAN

Date Published: 07-Jul-2008

The Central Criminal Court trial of a Polish man accused of raping a woman in Galway last year has heard that the alleged victim appeared flushed after both of them had gone at the same time to adjoining toilets.

The 41-year-old accused has pleaded NOT guilty to four charges of rape, sexual assault, assault causing harm to the woman and robbing €120 from her in a Galway town on May 9, 2007.

A publican told gardai the woman came to her kitchen some time before the premises opened and drank two vodkas while they chatted.

The publican’s statement said the complainant then drank some more vodka in the pub before going to the toilet where she stayed for between 10-15 minutes.

She didn’t reply to the publican who asked what if anything had happened to cause her to emerge in a flushed state.

The publican said she saw both the complainant and the accused outside when the doors were being closed.

The hearing continues before Mr Justice John Edwards and a jury of seven men and five women.