Rape trial jury sent home for night

A jury in the trial of an English man accused of raping his pregnant ex-girlfriend at a gunpoint in her County Clare home has been sent home for the night after failing to reach a verdict.

The 44-year-old man has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three counts of rape, two counts of anal rape and one count each of oral rape, false imprisonment, threatening to kill by shooting, threatening to disfigure with a knife, aggravated burglary and possessing a shotgun with intent to endanger life.