A man has gone on trial accused of raping a woman with Down syndrome at an apartment in Dublin city centre.
He'Â’s alleged to have brought her back to his flat after she became separated from her mother while out jogging in June 2013.
The alleged victim in this case won'Â’t be giving evidence in person.
Her direct evidence will be recorded and played on a DVD, and the defence will then be given an opportunity to cross-examine her through a live video link.
The man, who can'Â’t be named for legal reasons, is alleged to have raped her on June 12th 2013.
The woman became separated from her mother while out jogging that day, and itÂ’s the prosecutionÂ’s case that he brought her back to his Dublin city flat
An investigation was launched after she returned to her family home in a “distressed state”.
The accused is also charged with sexual assault and having sex with a “mentally impaired person” – an offence which, on conviction, carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
He admits there was sexual contact between the two, but claims it was consensual and insists he didnÂ’t know she had an intellectual disability
Our Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney reports:
