Uncle of woman alleging sexual abuse by family members says he 'never went near her'
Eimear Dodd and Isabel Hayes
An uncle of a woman who alleges she was sexually abused by seven family members told gardaí 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.
On Friday, Roisin Lacey, 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 gardaí 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,” gardaí 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.
