Jury in Offaly rape trial sent to hotel overnight

The jury in the trial at the Central Criminal Court of an Offaly farmer for the alleged rape of a teenage schoolgirl has been sent to a hotel overnight.

Mr Justice Peter Charleton sent the jury away just before the conclusion of his charge and told the four women and eight men they could commence deliberations in the morning.

Earlier, the jury heard closing stages by prosecuting counsel, Mr Tom Creed SC (with Ms Dara Foynes BL) and by defence counsel, Mr Colm Smyth SC (with Mr Willie Penrose BL).

The 56-year-old man is pleading not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the then 16-year-old girl on April 8, 2004 in his jeep in a field in County Offaly.

The trail has run for four days to date.