Accused denies rape of Dublin woman

A 46-year-old father of three has denied in evidence at the Central Criminal Court that he raped a woman after breaking into her house in the early hours of the morning.

The jury has also heard a list of his previous convictions dating back to 1970.

Mr Blaise O’Carroll SC (with Mr Charles Corcoran BL), defending, read out an extensive list of crimes including larceny, criminal damage and house breaking committed by the accused.

Mr O’Carroll told the jury his client wanted the jury to know his history and be aware that he has no previous convictions for any type of sexual misconduct.

The accused has pleaded not guilty to raping and falsely imprisoning the woman in her west Dublin home in the early morning of August 24, 2001, and to burglary of the house and theft of a mobile phone and cash on the same occasion.

The accused told the jury that he was living in Ballymun at the time of the alleged rape, was working as a delivery man for a drinks company and started work at 7am.

He said he was nowhere near the area where the woman was raped.

The hearing continues before Mr Justice Daniel Herbert and a jury of six men and six women.