Monaghan gang rape trial continues

A rape trial has heard that the chances of DNA found at the scene not belonging to one of the three accused are “astronomical”.

The three men are accused of taking part in the “gang rape” of a pregnant woman in Monaghan.

Dr Charlotte Murphy from the Forensic Science Laboratory said that she analysed traces of semen found on the outside of a condom which had been found in the house where the alleged rape took place.

She said that she estimated the chances of someone else, unrelated to the third accused, having the same DNA profile as the one found in the semen was one in 1,000 million.

She agreed with prosecution counsel, Mr Conor Devally SC, that the chances of it not being the third accused are “astronomical”.

This man (aged 20) is accused of rape. Another accused (aged 28) is alleged to have falsely imprisoned the woman, to have raped her and to have assaulted her and her partner causing them harm.

The final accused (aged 20) is accused of assaulting the couple causing them harm., falsely imprisoning the woman and rape.

The attacks are alleged to have taken place between November 15 and 19, 2010. All three have pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to all counts.

Dr Murphy said she that swabs taken from a second condom found at the house contained DNA profiles. One of these matched the profile of the alleged victim and a second incomplete DNA sample partially matched the profile of the 28-year-old accused.

She said this DNA could not be from the woman’s partner or from the other two accused men.

Dr Edel Sugrue, a scientist from the Forensic Science Laboratory, gave evidence that blood samples taken from the woman in the early morning after the alleged attack showed she had a blood alchohol reading of 239mg/100ml, which she said was “almost three times the drink driving limit” at the time.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of seven men and five women.