Longford resident denies sex with 12-year-old niece

A Longford resident has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of having sex with his 12-year-old niece at least four times a week for 17 months.

The now 17-year-old girl, who moved to Ireland when she was 11, claimed in court she was previously raped by another uncle in her home country when she was six.

The accused, who is originally from the same country, has pleaded not guilty to 17 sample counts of sexual assault between December 2004 and April 2006 at their Kildare home.

The girl gave evidence by video link and claimed she had sex with the accused because she was afraid of him. She said he would hit her and shout at her if she did not clean the house properly.

She told Mr Garnett Orange BL, prosecuting, that in 2004 the accused was lying on the couch and asked her to lie on top of him. She refused but later that year he allegedly called her into his room and undressed her before having sex with her.

She said this continued for the next 17 months. She claimed she would sleep in his room at least four nights a week and sexual intercourse would occur on all these occasions.

She said the allegations came out after she had a row with the accused over a mobile phone. She said he hit her before leaving the house and going to church. She ran crying to her neighbours who asked her if her uncle had done anything wrong.

When she replied that he had, the gardaí were called. The accused was arrested but denied all allegations.

The girl told defence counsel, Mr Barry Hickson SC, that she did not tell anyone about the abuse for so long because she was afraid of the accused because he said she would get in trouble.

She agreed that she had alot of disagreements with the accused over her stealing things and telling lies.

The trial continues before Judge Tony Hunt and a jury of eight men and four women.