The trial at the Central Criminal Court of a 62-year-old man accused of raping his friend’s nine-year-old daughter has collapsed due to witness difficulties.
Pleas of not guilty had been entered by the court on behalf of the father-of-two, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to two counts of rape, one count of oral rape and one count of sexual assault on dates in 1993.
On the fifth day of the trial the jury was told there were difficulties with a witness and the case was not proceeding. Mr Justice Paul Carney remanded the accused until Monday when a new jury will be sworn in.