Trial of men accused of familial abuse hears complainant first made allegations after attending course

Eimear Dodd

The Central Criminal Court trial of seven men accused of familial abuse has heard that the primary complainant first made allegations after attending a health promotion course in 2017.

Seven men, aged between 32 and 55, are on trial in relation to a combined total of 103 charges against them, of which 98 counts pertain to the main complainant, who is deaf.

They are her four younger brothers and three uncles.

They are accused of sexually abusing her at various stages over 17 years, between 1996 and 2013, and deny any wrongdoing.

One of the men is further accused of sexually abusing two of his younger sisters – also sisters of the main complainant.

None of the parties involved can be named for legal reasons.

An organiser of the health promotion course, which took place in autumn 2017, gave evidence today/yesterday (WED) that the main complainant asked to speak to him, then made allegations of sexual abuse.

He said he did not have a formally trained interpreter present and arranged to meet the woman around a week later to obtain more information to complete the mandatory reporting form.

He said he formed the view that the woman would require additional supports to make a statement to gardai and noted she had challenges communicating timelines.

The jury has previously heard that the woman has challenges communicating timelines in terms of calendars and sequence.

The witness said the woman was “very clear” when speaking to him that she had been “harmed by several people” and that she wished to make a report to gardaí.

In cross-examination, the witness agreed that the woman did not make allegations in relation to three of the accused men, her 55-year-old uncle, her 45-year-old uncle, and one of her brothers (32).

Her uncle (55), Accused A, is accused of a single count of raping her on a date between December 2009 and April 2011. A second uncle (45), Accused G, has denied a single count of raping her on a date between 1996 and 1997.

Her 32-year-old brother Accused F, has denied three counts of anal rape and two counts of raping the woman on dates between 2007 and 2010.

In relation to a third uncle, Accused B (48), the witness agreed that the woman said she “deflected” this uncle's attempts to touch her.

Accused B is accused of eight counts comprising rape, oral rape, and anal rape of the complainant on dates between December 2008 and December 2010.

In other evidence, a younger sister (who is not a complainant in this trial) said her older sister lived with other relatives for some of the period in question. She recalled that her older sister would often stay in the family home, but did not live there permanently.

She also said that her brothers lived with different relatives, some of them “on and off” during the same period.

She described the atmosphere in the family home as “aggressive” and “volatile”. She remembered an incident when her parents were shouting at each other, then her father “picked up” her mother and “slammed” her on the table. She said a brother called the gardai and her father left the house.

She also told the jury about an episode where her father (who is not on trial) “beat her”. She said she did not suffer injury.

The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and an extended jury panel of 14.

Accused A – the woman's 55-year-old uncle - is accused of a single count of raping her on a date between December 2009 and April 2011. He has denied the charge.

Accused B (48) – another uncle - is accused of eight counts comprising rape, oral rape and anal rape of the complainant on dates between December 2008 and December 2010. He has denied the charges.

Another three of her younger brothers are also accused of sexually abusing her over varying periods of time.

Accused C (34) is accused of 45 counts – 22 of rape and 23 counts of anally raping her over a 12- year period between 2001 and 2013.

Accused D (33) is accused of 22 counts of sexually abusing his sister over an 11-year period on dates between 2002 and 2013. He has pleaded not guilty to 19 charges of rape and three counts of anal rape.

Accused E (32) is accused of 16 counts of sexual abuse against his sister over an eight-year period between 2003 and 2011. He has denied nine counts of anal rape and seven counts of raping her.

Another brother, Accused F (also 32), has denied five counts – three counts of anal rape and two counts of raping his sister on dates between 2007 and 2010.

A third uncle, Accused G (45), has denied a single count of raping her on a date between 1996 and 1997.

Accused C is further charged with the sexual abuse of two of his younger sisters. He is charged with one count of sexual assault in relation to one sister, Complainant 2, on a date between 2005 and 2006 when she was a child.

He is also charged with two counts of rape and one count of anal rape of this woman on dates between 2016 and 2019.

He is also charged with one count of anally raping a third sister, Complainant 3, on dates between 2013 and 2014.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.