Rape accused 'lured schoolgirl into his bed', court hears

A jury at the Central Criminal Court has been told that a Waterford man lured a schoolgirl into his bed and raped her over a decade ago.

The jury was also told by prosecuting counsel, Mr Gerard Clarke SC, in his opening speech, that the now 24-year-old woman made her formal complaint to gardaí in 2005.

The 55-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, oral rape and sexual assault of the then 11-14 year-old girl on dates unknown from January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1997.

Mr Clarke said the complainant was in another room when the man called to her, saying he had something to show her. He said she entered the room and he asked her to get into bed with him where he raped her.

He said following the rape she was in great pain and locked herself in the bathroom.

Mr Clarke told the jury of another alleged incident where the man took her to a feed shed and sexually assaulted her by putting his penis in her mouth.

Mr Clarke added that the accused denied her allegations in full when gardai interviewed him.

The complainant will begin her evidence when the trial resumes in the morning before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.