Sligo rape trial jury to begin deliberations on Monday

The jury in the trial of a Sligo man accused of raping his 14-year-old daughter and fathering her child is due to begin deliberations on Monday.

The 48-year-old man has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to eight counts of sexual assault and seven counts of rape at the family home between September 2005 and September 2007.

The complainant, now aged 19, has alleged that her father sexually abused her once every two to three weeks from when she was 13.

The jury previously heard evidence of DNA tests which showed that the accused is 12,000 times more likely to have fathered his daughter’s child than anyone else unrelated to the accused.

Today prosecuting counsel, Isobel Kennedy SC, said the prosecution had finished presenting evidence before both prosecution and defence counsel gave their closing speeches to the jury.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy began charging the jury of eight men and four women this afternoon and the jury are due to begin deliberating when the judge finishes this charge on Monday.