A Midlands woman told a jury in the Central Criminal Court yesterday that she was raped by a fellow FCA member after a Mass for deceased members. The 22-year-old woman said the accused raped her in a shed in the grounds of a hotel after he had seen her kissing another FCA man.
The 26-year-old accused denies he raped the woman on November 19th, 1995. The trial is being held before Mr Justice O'Donovan.
The woman told Mr Patrick Gageby SC, prosecuting, that she and the accused were among a group of FCA members who took part in the Mass parade, and remained drinking in the hotel after lunch. She said she drank about four pints but didn't think she could be described as being "merry" as a result. She went to the toilet, and on her way back to the lounge another man in the party met her at the reception area. They spoke for a few minutes and kissed.
She said the accused came along and asked her if he could speak to her outside. She didn't think anything about that and went outside with him. He told her she should not be kissing the other man because she had a regular boyfriend, and then made an attempt to kiss her.
The woman told Mr Gageby that she pushed him away and asked him about his own girlfriend. "He didn't seem to be too bothered about his girlfriend," the woman said.
She told the jury the accused pulled her to the shed and pushed her to the floor on her back. He put one hand over her mouth and began to remove her clothing.
She was crying and couldn't call out because of his hand over her mouth. He stood up suddenly after a few minutes and she got up also, pulled up her clothes and ran back to her friends in the hotel.
She was crying and in shock and told them the accused had raped her. The gardai were called.
"I didn't agree to have sex with him," she said in further reply to Mr Gageby.
The hearing continues.