Corkman pleads not guilty to murder and rape

An 18-year-old Corkman has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court today to the murder and rape of a woman in Cork in 2000.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies murdering 22-year-old Rachel Kiely at Regional Park, Ballincollig, Co Cork on October 26, 2000.

He pleaded not guilty to a second charge of rape on the same occasion.

A jury has been sworn in to hear the trial which opens before Mr Justice Paul Butler this afternoon.