The final stages of the trial of a Cork man for the alleged rape of a woman in his car are near to completion at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.
Counsel for the State, Mr Raphael Sutton SC and for the defence, Mr Anthony Sammon SC, have addressed the jury. Mr Justice Smith will finish his charge to the jury of three women and nine men when the hearing resumes at 11 a.m. today. It is expected the jury will then retire to consider its verdict.
Both the alleged victim and the accused man gave evidence which agreed on many of the facts but disagreed on the question of consent and associated matters.
The 28-year-old Cork man has pleaded not guilty to rape, attempted rape and aggravated sexual assault on the woman on March 22nd, 1997 in a Cork town.