A Clare man has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Ennis, for the alleged rape of a teenage girl in her family home in 2009.
The complainant in the case was 16 at the time of the alleged incident and in Transition year at school – the accused was 20 and can’t be named for legal reasons.
He denies the charge.
The woman is now 19 and told the Central Criminal Court, sitting at the courthouse in Ennis this week, that the man had been an acquaintance of hers and they were in regular phone contact.
She said he forced himself on her in her bedroom on June 16th, 2009, having arrived unnanounced at her home.
She tried to get him off her, and asked him to stop hurting her, but he was too strong.
The woman said that the man and two of his friends came to her home the following day and she discovered that 800 euro in savings belonging to her brother was missing after they left.
She told Gardai about the alleged robbery on June 21st and made a complaint relating to the alleged rape later that day – saying she was scared to say anything before that.
The accused man – who’s now 23 – has pleaded Not Guilty. The trial continues.