Judge adjourns incest trial

A MONAGHAN farmer's incest trial was adjourned at the Central Criminal Court yesterday after his 13 year old daughter said she…

A MONAGHAN farmer's incest trial was adjourned at the Central Criminal Court yesterday after his 13 year old daughter said she did not want to help the court and declined to say why.

Mr Justice Geoghegan asked the jury to return to court this morning to resume hearing the case.

The accused man has pleaded of guilty to 11 charges of rape, unlawful carnal knowledge, buggery and sexual assault of is daughter in the period 198 - 991 when she was between five and nine years old.

He also denies two charges of buggery and indecent assault of his son, now aged 14.

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Initially, the girl told prosecution counsel, Mr Joseph Mathews SC, she lived at home with her mother and brother. She remained silent for some time after Mr Mathews basked her when her father had stopped living at home. She then said she could not remember.

She agreed she did not want her father to come back, but when asked why, she replied: "I don't know.

Mr Mathews asked if she understood it was necessary to ask her questions, she said no.

After she did not respond when asked why she did not want to answer questions, Mr Justice Geoghegan adjourned the hearing.

The trial continues.