Rape accused admits breaching barring order

A man accused of raping and assaulting his wife at a house in Co Meath admitted he had been living at the premises for two months despite a barring order against him being in place.

The 35-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to charges of rape and assault causing harm to the woman on April 12, 2009.

A charge of false imprisonment has been withdrawn by the State.

The jury have heard closing speeches from counsel and have been charged by Mr Justice Liam McKechnie.

Mr Justice McKechnie sent the jury of six men and six women home for the night after they had been deliberating for almost two hours and asked them to return tomorrow morning.