Rape complainant initially alleged three men were involved, trial hears

At the Central Criminal Court, a trial heard that a woman alleging rape initially described three men as being involved in the assault. The complainant told the court she attended a party at a flat in a County Leitrim town in 2017 where she consumed alcohol. She stated she lost consciousness and awoke to find the first accused assaulting her. She reported hearing male voices and subsequently blacked out again, regaining consciousness as the second accused was assaulting her. Two Leitrim men have pleaded not guilty to rape charges. The second accused also denies oral rape. During cross-examination, the defence put to the complainant that she had previously given an account involving three assailants. The complainant confirmed this, noting she had heard voices in the room. A nurse from the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in Mullingar confirmed the complainant initially reported three men were involved. The nurse stated she observed genital injuries consistent with non-consensual activity, though acknowledged such injuries could also occur during consensual contact.