Sergeant's wife heard 'chatting' in kitchen, rape trial told

The wife of the sergeant accused of raping a woman in a County Donegal garda station has told a Central Criminal Court jury she heard them "chatting" in her kitchen at about 2am.

She agreed with defence counsel, Mr Michael O’Higgins SC (with Mr Peter Nolan BL) that if she had heard the woman sobbing she would have got out of bed to find out what was wrong.

When she heard a female voice as well as her husband’s she thought it was that of the daughter of the local publican who sometimes left him home. She then heard her husband and the woman with him drive off in his car.

The 55-year-old accused denies raping and sexually assaulting the now 25-year-old woman in their local garda station on June 21, 2000. It was day 10 of the trial which is expected to end this week.

His wife said he was a good husband who provided for his family and reared his children to know right from wrong.

The hearing continues before Mr Justice Henry Abbott and the jury of six men and six women.