A BELFAST jury heard yesterday that a 12 year old boy told police that his sister had forced him to lie to police to support her allegations of sexual abuse by their father,
The Crown Court heard evidence that in his initial statement the boy had claimed his father had abused him. But a woman detective told Mr Justice Kerr that at a third interview he asked to withdraw his complaint.
The boy told her he "had made his statement up" when his sister had asked him "to help her out" following her allegations against their father.
The 53 year old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the alleged victims, has denied a total of 18 charges of rape, indecent assault and gross indecency against his eldest three daughters. The offences were allegedly committed between 1972 and 1982 when they were aged from six to 14.
The jury also heard that when the boy had first gone to the police to withdraw his complaint he had said the reason was that his father had been beaten up in jail, but he had maintained his abuse allegations were true.
At a later interview he said he had been forced to make the complaint by his sister. But his mother, the defendant's former wife, said they were not given enough time to speak when they first asked to withdraw the complaint, and this statement was not read back to them.
The hearing continues today.