Deaf man accused of assaulting partner's friend

A deaf man accused of sexually assaulting his also-deaf partner's friend has told a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury in evidence that he had "nothing to say about it" because he was "going down as guilty".

He said in reply to his defence counsel Mr Paul Greene Bl, that he "just went into his son's bedroom" where she was sleeping that night and they "made love". He said gardaí were at his door a few days later.

Gardaí said that the 33-year-old man told them during interview that he had "tried to make love" to the complainant but she had pushed him away and he had "kind of forced her".

"I knew what I was doing wrong. My heart was racing and I was shaking. I then left the room and went downstairs for a smoke, I knew what I was doing wrong," he told gardaí.

The Dublin man has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting the 43-year-old woman on January 01, 2004 in his home after she had celebrated New Year's Eve with him, his partner and his son.

Garda Fiona Broderick told Mr Garnet Orange BL, prosecuting, that the man said during an interview in the garda station that he was "fond" of the complainant. He said she had gone to bed first and he had left his partner in their bed to go into his son's room where the woman was in bed.

He agreed with gardaí that it was "in his mind" to sleep with the complainant that night and said that he had wanted to make love to her because he was fond of her.

He told gardaí that he had started to kiss her but she told him to get out of the room so he left. He said he came back 20 minutes later and woke her up with a kiss to her face.

Gda Broderick said the accused told them the complainant had tried to push him away while he attempted to have sex with her. He said he had not "entered her" but admitted he had ejaculated.

Gda Broderick said the accused claimed his partner was "mad" when she found out about it the next morning. He said he advised his partner to tell the complainant to report him to the gardaí.

The accused claimed in his evidence that he had not told gardai she pushed him away and that he "kind of" forced her when he tried to make love to her.

When asked by Mr Orange, in cross-examination, if the complainant had consented to "this contact with him", the accused replied: "No, I don't know. She didn't consent at the start but after she did."

He said after he had sex with her "there was a bit of panic and I left the room".

The trial continues before Judge Frank O'Donnell and a jury of eight men and four women.