Angry scenes as rape-accused is acquitted

A Dublin man accused of sexually abusing a young girl in the city over 20 years ago has been acquitted by a Central Criminal Court jury on all charges.

The 58-year-old accused had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two counts of sexual assault on dates between September and December 1983 and one count of rape on dates between May 1, 1984 and June 30, 1984 against the girl while she was aged between six and seven years old.

There were angry scenes outside the courtroom after the verdict was read out and a family member of the accused claimed to have been attacked by associates of the complainant as he left the building.

As the accused stood up and thanked the judge and jury he was called "a f***ing liar" by a woman leaving the court.

Mr Justice Daniel Herbert said he was concerned for the safety of the man and requested that he be escorted from the complex by gardaí.

Defence counsel, Mr Luán Ó Braonáin SC said the incident might constitute an assault and was certainly in contempt of court. Mr Justice Herbert said it was up to the man if he wanted to make a complaint.

The jury of five men and seven women reached its verdict on day seven of the trial following two and a half hours of deliberation.

The accused was acquitted by direction of the trial judge on eight other counts of sexual assault and rape.

Mr Justice Herbert thanked the jury of five men and seven women for their attention throughout the trial and excused them from service for three years.

He told the accused that since he was found not guilty, the presumption of innocence remained and he was free to go.