Trial of teacher enters final stages

The trial of a north Dublin teacher accused of unlawful carnal knowledge of one of his pupils has entered its final stages.

The 48-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of unlawful carnal knowledge of a then 16-year-old transition year student at the school on dates in March 2002.

Prosecuting counsel Mr Vincent Heneghan BL told the jury members to use their "common sense" in looking at the evidence before them.

He said teachers often had to deal with student crushes but when a teacher received over 100 texts from a pupil "should he encourage them by replying?"

Mr Feargal Kavanagh SC (with Mr Ronan Kennedy BL), defending, told the jury it must decide if there was sufficient evidence to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. He said that just because the complainant had stuck to her story through cross-examination didn't make it true.

Judge Frank O'Donnell will continue his chage to the jury of eight men and four women who are expected to start their deliberations this afternoon.