Cousin contacted gardaí because he feared rape-trial accused's safety

A rape trial has heard that a cousin of the accused contacted gardaí because he was worried about the man's welfare after he noticed that his own shotgun and cartridges were missing from his home.

The witness told Ms Pauline Walley SC, prosecuting, that he "thought of the accused" because the man was depressed and was going through his own troubles. "I was worried that he was going to do something to himself with the gun," he said.