Doctor gives evidence in rape trial

A doctor has told the Central Criminal Court today that he found bruising and slight scratching on the body of an Eastern European woman who claims she was raped by a Lithuanian national in a Cork suburban house.

The 35-year-old accused pleads not guilty to raping her on January 16, 2005 and claims they had consensual sexual intercourse after sleeping together following a party in the house.

Dr Daniel Coffey said the woman told him there had been several "strangers" at the party and she gave him a history of having gone to bed in the house at about 3 am before waking up later with a sore hand to find "a man over her taking off her pants".

The woman told him this man raped her despite her efforts to resist him and she claimed he said to her that he liked "to see me scream and struggle".

Dr Coffey said he found a tender area on the left side of the woman's face and a small cut inside her lip. There was bruising on her arms, thighs and shin with some scratching on one knee joint.

He also found some "redness" between her breasts while one shoulder blade was "tender to touch".

Dr Coffey told prosecuting counsel, Mr Paul Coffey SC (with Ms Monika Leech BL), that he found no injuries in her genital area and his findings "were consistent with recent trauma".

"The absence of general trauma doesn't preclude non-consensual sex."

Dr Coffey told defence counsel, Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC (with Mr Tim O'Connor BL), that there was no interpreter present when he examined the woman.

He agreed with Mr O'Carroll that "any contact at all" between humans or between a human being and an object could produce bruising.

The hearing continues before Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins and a jury of seven men and five women who are viewing video recordings of garda interviews with the accused.