Accused 'denied all' when confronted by neighbour

A young man on trial for the attempted murder and attempted sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl denied he had anything to do with it when confronted by the girl's neighbour shortly after the incident.

The neighbour, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, told the Central Criminal Court today that he saw the girl at approximately 5pm on the day of the attack.

She had just returned home from the direction of a nearby sports complex and was crying. He noticed a red mark on her neck.

"She was crying and upset. I asked her what happened", the witness told the jury. He then rang the accused, Eric Daniels. When Mr Daniels arrived at the front gate of the girl's home, he said "what do you want?"

"I asked him what did he do", the witness told the jury. "He said he didn't do anything to her." After that the accused left and said he was "going home to get his dinner".

The court has heard evidence from the victim that the accused allegedly tied a black lace around her neck and tried to choke her before attempting to sexually assault her.

Mr Eric Daniels (aged 19) of Elm Park, Clonmel, Tipperary has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and attempted sexual assault at Kelly's Field, Gortmalogue, Clonmel on 10 November 2001.

He further denies falsely imprisoning the girl and assaulting her causing harm on the same date.

In other evidence, a paediatrician attached to St Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel, said he examined the victim eight hours after the incident and noted a number of marks to her neck.

Dr Ilyas Khan told the jury he noted a linear mark 10 centimetres long across the girl's neck. There were two other marks on her neck measuring 5.5 centimeters and he also noticed bruising on her thighs.

The trial continues in legal argument.