Mayo man denies 40 charges of sexual assault and rape

The Mayo man on trial at the Central Criminal Court on 40 charges of alleged rape and sexual assault of a child in the 1980s totally denied her allegations when interviewed by gardaí.

"She's sick in the head. She's definitely sick," he repeatedly said in reply to specific allegations.

The 58-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges of rape, one of oral rape and 19 of indecent assault on the complainant on dates from 1979 to 1988 in various Co Mayo venues.

"I wasn't there, end of story," he replied to another specific allegation and added that he would prove her allegations were false through letters he had in his possession. The trial is on its third day.

Sergeant Gabriel McLaughlin and Garda Stephen Gaughan told prosecuting counsel Mr Shane Costelloe BL (with Ms Isobel Kennedy SC) that the accused denied he would get the complainant to masturbate him and that he also got her to wear his wife's night-dress and sleep with him in his bed.

He also denied he threatened she would be put into care if she complained about the alleged assaults. He agreed he knew what "rape" was and said he had never used cream to soothe her vagina after sexual intercourse, as she claimed.

He said he was "totally disgusted" when it was put to him that he would often show his penis to her and say: "Look how big I can make this."

He told gardaí the questions being put to him were becoming "more stupid" and said that contrary to what she claimed he treated all the children equally and she did not get preferential treatment. He claimed she had a grudge against him because of his attitude to a boyfriend she had at one stage.

The accused told gardaí he didn't know why the woman would make these allegations against him. "I haven't got a clue," he replied several times.

The hearing continues before Mr Justice Peter Charleton and a jury of six men and six women.