Rape trial: Mayo father denies 'ever touching' daughter

The Mayo father on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the alleged rape of his teenage daughter agreed with gardaí that he viewed porn videos but denied that he ever touched her.

Sergeant James Gill told Mr Brendan Grehan SC (with Mr Paul Carroll BL), prosecuting, that he also said he could NOT explain why she would make her detailed allegations and he didn't know what was in her mind.

When asked what he thought of various parts of his daughter's statement when they were read to him, he categorically denied the incidents she claimed ever happened.

He told gardaí he would try to find out what was troubling her and try to cure her.

The 48-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of rape, oral rape and sexual assault of his daughter on dates from 2000-2003 at venues in Counties Mayo and Galway.

Sgt Gill said the teenager's statement of complaint was taken down over several days in March 2006. He arrested the accused some weeks later and interviews with him were video-recorded before he was released.

Sgt Gill said the accused was arrested again in December 2006 and formally charged with the offences before the court on the instructions of the Director of Public Prosecutions. He replied: "Not guilty," to each charge.

"I didn't do anything of what you said. I didn't sexually molest her," he said.

Sgt Gill said gardaí asked him if she was telling lies and he replied that he was not telling lies but didn't know "what is in her mind".

The accused agreed with gardaí that he had pornographic magazines and also looked at porn videos. He said he would lock the door of the room when looking at them so that he wouldn't be disturbed. He didn't know how she knew about the porn video.

Sgt Gill said the accused told them he didn't know why his daughter made her allegations and he pitied her as he loved all his children.

The hearing continues before Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins and a jury of eight men and four women.