Man on trial for sexually abusing girl told gardaí there was a 'conspiracy'

A Dublin man on trial at the Central Criminal Court on charges of sexually abusing a young girl in the city over 20 years ago told gardaí there was a "conspiracy" and the alleged victim was being "led on by someone".

The 58-year-old accused has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault on dates between September and December 1983 and two counts of rape on dates between May 1984 and February 1988 against the girl while she was aged between six and 11 years old.