Trial of school football coach for raping teenager nears final phase

The trial of a school football coach accused of raping and sexually abusing a young girl has reached its final phase before the Central Criminal Court.

The 61-year-old Dublin man has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 30 counts of sexual assault, four counts of defilement, one count of rape and one count of anal rape at unknown locations in the state between September 2007 and February 2010.

The plaintiff in this case was between 15 and 18 years old at the time of the alleged crime, while the defendant was between 45 and 47 years old.

On Friday, the jury was told that, on the instructions of the trial judge, the man was found not guilty of the 30 counts of sexual assault. The remaining four counts of defilement, one count of rape and one count of anal rape are still before the court.

Prosecutor Fiona Murphy SC told the jury in her closing argument that this case had not been an easy one and that “the 12 members of the jury must now come together with their life experience and consider the evidence before them”.

Ms Murphy said that in relation to the four counts of defilement, the jury “must be satisfied that the plaintiff was under 17 years of age and that the defendant knew she was under 17”. She told the jury that the defendant was the plaintiff’s football coach and must have been aware of her age.

“I submit that you have clear and convincing evidence that is unequivocal and supported by other evidence,” Ms. Murphy said. She told the jury: “There is substantial evidence of what the complaint alleges happened.”

Defence counsel John Fitzgerald SC told the jury there were “reasons why you might have doubts about the evidence”.

He said that the plaintiff reportedly went out almost every evening.

Mr Fitzgerald told the jury: “If someone raped you vaginally and anally, why did you let them rape you for eight years?”

“Why would you go to breakfast with him and your sister?” and “Why would you even get in a car with him?” he said.

Mr Fitzgerald said the plaintiff asked the defendant to borrow money in 2019 so she could buy a new phone. He said: “If someone had raped you, it is difficult to imagine you would have contact with them for the price of a phone.”

He suggested to the jury that if there was any doubt, they should “give the defendant the benefit of the doubt and acquit him.”

The trial will continue on Monday before a jury and Judge Eileen Creedon, who is expected to address the jury then.