THE TRIAL of a Cork man charged with sexually assaulting his former girlfriend's teenage daughter had to be adjourned abruptly when the girl walked out of the court's video link room.
Her action came during the second day of the hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court while she was being cross examined by Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC, defence counsel.
The hearing had just resumed after a short break allowed by Judge Kieran O'Connor when the witness was being pressed concerning what Mr O'Carroll said were variations in accounts of the allegations she had given to her mother, a social worker and a garda.
She replied that she had given a fuller account to the garda, with whom she had felt more at ease. Judge O'Connor then called the break after the girl said she did not want to answer any more questions. She complained that she was being asked the same questions repeatedly. "I am sick of the whole lot," she said.
When the hearing resumed, Mr O'Carroll read out parts of her statements to the social worker and the garda, and asked her which was the correct account. She replied that both were right.
She was asked again about the time she alleged certain acts had taken place and her reply was inaudible. When Judge O'Connor asked her how she knew the time, the 16 year old rose abruptly from the chair, pulled off the microphone and walked out.
The 36 year old mane has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges of indecent assault and sexual assault on the girl on dates between 1989 and 1993.
Earlier, in reply to Mr O'Carroll, the girl claimed that the accused man had "driven a gulf" between her and her mother.
She repeated her claims of beatings by the accused man with a belt and buckle as a means of imposing discipline. The accused man and her mother had had many rows over the way he treated the children.
She said she was happy when her mother threw the man out of the house in November 1993 and she did not care what happened to him as long as he stayed away from her. She felt safe when he was gone, as he had threatened to kill her if she revealed his actions.
In further reply to Mr O'Carroll, the girl claimed she told one female school friend about what was happening before her mother caught the accused man allegedly fondling her under bedclothes in November 1993.
This girl had "partly guessed" what was happening. She was the "only one" available to her at a time when she could not talk to her mother. She refused to name this girl to Mr O'Carroll.
Pressed by counsel and Judge O'Connor to name this friend, the girl replied "I am not disclosing her name as the courtroom is full."
The trial continues.