The trial of a school soccer coach accused of the rape and defilement of a teenage girl has reached closing stages at the Central Criminal Court.
The 61-year-old Dublin man has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 30 counts of sexual assault, four counts of defilement, one count of rape and one count of anal rape at unknown locations within the State on dates between September 2007 and February 2010.
The complainant in the case was aged between 15 and 18 at the time of the alleged offending, while the accused man was aged between 45 and 47.
The jury was told on Friday that the man will be found not guilty of the 30 sexual assault charges by direction of the trial judge. The remaining four counts of defilement, one count of rape and one count of anal rape are still before the court.
Fiona Murphy SC, prosecuting, told the jury in her closing address that this case has not been an easy subject matter and that “the 12 members of the jury must now come together with their life experience and look at the evidence before them”.
Ms Murphy said that in relation to the four counts of defilement, the jury “must be satisfied that the complainant was under the age of 17 and that the accused knew she was under 17”. She outlined to the jury that the accused was the complainant's soccer coach and would have been aware of her age.
“I am suggesting that you have clear and cogent evidence that is clear and supported by other evidence,” Ms Murphy said. She told the jury: “There is significant corroboration of what the complaint said happened.”
John Fitzgerald SC, defending, told the jury that there are “reasons why you might have doubt over the evidence”.
He said that according to the complainant's evidence, she was going out nearly every night.
Mr Fitzgerald said to the jury: “If someone had raped you vaginally and anally, why would you take lifts off them for eight years?”
“Why would you go to breakfast with him and your sister?” and “Why would you put yourself in a car with him at all?” he said.
Mr Fitzgerald said that in 2019, the complainant asked to borrow money from the accused so she could buy a new phone. He said: “If someone had raped you, it’s hard to see for the price of a phone you would have any contact with him.”
He suggested to the jury that if they have any doubt, they must “give the accused man the benefit of that doubt and acquit him”.
The trial continues before a jury and Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on Monday. The judge is expected to begin her charge to the jury then.
