Friend of accused came forward after reading newspaper report

A friend of a Tipperary man accused of rape told the jury in his trial at the Central Criminal Court that he came forward to give evidence on his friend's behalf after reading a newspaper report on the case last week.

The witness told defence counsel, Mr Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha SC (with Mr Carl Hanahoe BL), that he had seen newspaper reports of the man's trial last week in which the woman denied "kissing or cuddling" the accused prior to returning to her father's house where she alleges the rape began while she was asleep.