‘People with Down syndrome have same facial features’ hears trial

The trial of a foreign national accused of raping a woman who has Down syndrome has heard that the facial features associated with the condition are the same everywhere in the world.

CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland Pat Clarke told the court people with the condition have distinctive physical features which “would be instantly recognisable”.

The 34-year-old accused, who has lived here since 2007,

has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to rape, sexual assault, and having sex with a mentally impaired person at his home on June 12, 2013.

Mr Clarke told Caroline Biggs, prosecuting, that the physical characteristics of Down syndrome were the same across all races and in all countries. He said this included the native country of the accused.

He agreed with Padraig Dwyer, defending, that the accused’s native country had a lower rate of Down syndrome live births than Ireland.

The trial also heard evidence from two women who said they were made feel uncomfortable by someone matching the accused’s description in the same area around the time of the alleged rape.

The trial continues.