Trial of two boys accused of raping girl at Limerick racecourse begins in Cork

The boys, now aged 15 and 17 are accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at a Christmas race meeting when they were aged 13 and 15

The case opened on Monday at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven women and five men. File picture: Dan Linehan

A 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at a Christmas race meeting went on trial on Monday at the Central Criminal Court.

Now aged 15 and 17 the two defendants are both charged with raping and sexually assaulting the teenager at a St. Stephen’s Day race meeting at Limerick racecourse.

A third boy is accused of aiding and abetting the first two defendants in carrying out their crimes and he is also charged with falsely imprisoning the girl.

It is alleged that the contested incidents occurred in a car at Limerick racecourse at Patrickswell, County Limerick, on December 26, 2023.

The case opened on Monday at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven women and five men. All three accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Dean Kelly, prosecution senior counsel, gave the jury an outline of the expected evidence but stressed that this account was not itself evidence.

He said the complainant went to a friend’s house to get dressed for the races and to have some drinks with friends before getting a taxi to the racecourse.

“The three accused were at Limerick racecourse. At a certain point the complainant found herself in their company within the racecourse. There was conversation. They walked a short distance to a car.

“It is what happens in the car that is the focus of this trial. It is the prosecution case that (first defendant) had sexual intercourse with her and that he engaged in other intimate touching and did this plainly without consent. (Second defendant) also had sexual intercourse without her consent and engaged in intimate touching plainly without her consent.

“It is the prosecution case that (third defendant) was present but more importantly, by his presence he provided assistance to the other two in raping and sexually assaulting her,” Mr Kelly said.

The prosecution senior counsel said that it may be the most normal thing for a juror to have sympathies for the complainant, or even for the accused because they are so young, but he said they must approach their work as jurors coldly and dispassionately.

The jury was told that they should be available for potentially the next three weeks for the trial.