Teen rape trial in closing stages

The closing stages have been reached in the trial at the Central Criminal Court of a Wexford teenager accused of raping a Wicklow schoolgirl at the Arklow "Sea Breeze" festival in July 2004.

The State case has closed and the jury is hearing concluding speeches by counsel for the prosecution, Ms Aileen Donnelly SC (with Mr Garnet Orange BL) and for the defence, Mr Hugo Hynes SC (with David Whelan BL) this afternoon.

Mr Justice Eamon de Valera has told the jury he will charge it and that it will then begin its deliberations before lunchtime tomorrow.

He has also advised the nine men and three women to bring in overnight bags in case they have to be sent to a hotel. The trial has continued for four days.

The 18-year-old accused has pleaded not guilty to four charges of raping and sexually assaulting the then 14 year-old girl on July 18, 2004.

He denies one count each of rape, oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault on the same occasion and told gardaí he was a virgin before he alleges the complainant "raped" him.