Young Corkman acquitted of raping girl when they were 16 at St Patrick's Day bonfire

The accused claimed that the complainant was the one who asked him to have sex with her and that it was all consensual.

The defendant who is now aged 19 denied rape and related charges at the Central Criminal Court in Cork and now a jury of nine men and three women has returned unanimous not guilty verdicts in the case. File picture: Larry Cummins

WARNING: Some readers may find the following report upsetting

A 16-year-old girl testified that she was raped by a boy of the same age when up to 50 youths were gathered for drinking by a bonfire in a remote spot on the outskirts of a Cork town.