Closing stages of teen rape trial

A trial at the Central Criminal Court concerning a Donegal teenager charged with rape has entered its closing phase. The accused, aged 19, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of oral rape of a schoolgirl, then 16, alleged to have occurred outside a building in a County Donegal town in March 2016. The prosecution outlined that injuries sustained by the complainant were consistent with forced sexual contact rather than consensual activity. The defence highlighted gaps in the complainant's recollection of events and referenced CCTV footage showing both teenagers together after the alleged incident, suggesting this undermined the complainant's credibility. A garda report noted the complainant did not appear visibly distressed in the recording. The case is being heard before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy and a jury of eleven members.