Courts / Dublin / Report

Rape accused tells trial he thought sex was consensual

Date
2018-05-15

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 30‑year‑old man accused of raping a woman he met on the dating app Badoo told the jury he believed the sexual activity was consensual. He explained that they had matched on the app and that a text about bringing a condom was received, but he claimed he did not have one when he arrived. He said the woman appeared disappointed but did not give a negative response when they began sex, and that she seemed "quite into it and quite happy." He stated he stopped when she asked him not to use his fingers and that he had no intention of continuing without her consent. The accused denied any admission of non‑consensual sex, claimed he had no prior convictions, and argued that the police had misinterpreted his statements. The case remains in the closing stages before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Rape accused tells trial he thought sex was consensual. Charges or matters: raping the woman at her home in Dublin on August 14, 2015. Procedural stage: trial

When:

August 14, 2015 Other
2018-05-15 Publication

Why: He accepted that he told a garda "I know she said no, but we'd already started", but explained that this was the third thing he had stated on arrest. CNI source report