Woman felt sorry for equestrian coach, aged 62, who raped her, aged 14, until he denied it in court

During his evidence the  sports coach described the young woman’s evidence as ‘fantasies’ and ‘insane’

William Connolly will be sentenced on February 13 at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork. File picture: Larry Cummins

WARNING: Some readers may find the following report upsetting

A 14-year-old girl who was raped by her 62-year-old equestrian sports coach who promised to help her as long as she kept him happy, described how she felt sorry for him and felt guilty with the secret for six years until the moment he got into the witness box at his trial and “I had to listen to him deny everything that we both know had happened”.