A FORMER soldier in the Irish and British armies told a Central Criminal Court jury yesterday he did not rape his then 13 year old daughter on various occasions during 1980-1981.
"I wouldn't do anything like that", the 63 year old man told his counsel, Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC. He said he signed a statement of admission "just to get out of the Garda station".
The defendant agreed with Mr Justice Shanley he remained a further 20 minutes in the Garda station having a cup of tea after he signed the statement.
Earlier, the jury was told by Supt Felix McKenna that the defendant made his admission about an hour after he and Det Sgt Sean Campbell began questioning him on March 22nd, 1994.
Supt McKenna, replying to Mr Peter Charleton SC, prosecuting, said the defendant at first denied the allegations but, following further questions, he said: "My daughter is telling the truth. I am sorry for what I done. I did it when I was drunk. I had sex with her when teaching her to dance." He signed the statement.
The defendant denies 16 charges of alleged rape, unlawful carnal knowledge, incest and indecent assault of his daughter during 1980-1981. He has also denied three charges of aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault of a 16 year old female family friend on April 1st, 1993.
Supt McKenna agreed with Mr Vaughan Buckley that the defendant was released from custody after signing the statement. He was charged several months later following a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
During cross examination, the defendant told Mr Charleton he had spent 12 years in the Irish and British armies. He believed his daughter was making the allegations against him because he refused to hand over tenancy of the family home to her so she could live beside her boyfriend's parents. He was "forced" to sign the statement.
The defendant's wife said her daughter never complained to her about being sexually abused by him. She also told the jury her daughter wanted to take over the house to live near her boyfriend's parents.
The evidence has concluded.