Man accused of rape 'not father of children', court hears

The father of a woman on trial for alleging he raped her was not the father of any of her children as she also claimed, a forensic scientist told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Doctor Dorothy Ramsbottom of the Garda Forensic Science Laboratory said DNA evidence proved beyond doubt that the woman's father was not the father of any of her children.

The woman has pleaded not guilty to 13 charges of making false statements to gardai from May 15, 2002 to July 31, 2002 under section 12 of the Criminal Law Act.

The 34-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, made 13 alleged false statements claiming he raped and sexually abused her from the age of six and was the father of one of her children. She then made a 14th statement withdrawing her allegations. It was day-three of her trial.

Dr Ramsbottom told prosecuting counsel, Mr Dominic McGinn BL, that everyone's DNA was unique and had two equal strands, one from their father and one from the mother. The DNA samples proved the woman was the mother of all the children but ruled out her father has being their father.

Dr Fiona McKenna of the Rotunda Sexual Assault Unit said the woman claimed on July 20, 2002 that her father had raped her the previous evening. She took swabs and clothing from the woman who seemed uncertain about her recent sexual history.

Dr McKenna said there was "nothing remarkable" about the woman when she examined her and she found nothing to indicate trauma in her vaginal area. The woman said she had thrown away her underwear.

Dr Stephen Doak, a forensic scientist in the Laboratory , said that no traces of semen were found in the swabs taken from the accused or on clothing, including underwear, jeans, a jumper and a duvet.

The trial continues before Judge Anthony Hunt.