Jury deliberations in trial of taxi driver accused of raping two women to continue on Friday

Man (50) pleaded not guilty to the two charges, claiming any sexual contact was consensual

It is the State’s case that each young woman found themselves in a taxi after a night out socialising in Dublin city centre and that each was raped by the accused.

The jury in the trial of a taxi driver accused of raping two young women on separate dates in 2022 has suspended their deliberations for the day.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott told the jury to pause their deliberations for the day and directed them to return on Friday to continue their work. They had deliberated for just over 60 minutes.

The 50-year-old Dublin man has pleaded not guilty to the rape and anal rape of one woman in June 2022. He has further denied the rape of another woman in August 2022.

It is the State’s case that each young woman found themselves in a taxi after a night out socialising in Dublin city centre and that each was raped by the accused.

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The man, who can’t be named for legal reasons, denies the allegations and claims that any sexual contact between him and each woman was consensual.

Earlier, Mr Justice McDermott told the 12 jurors each count must be treated separately, and they must be satisfied that the prosecution case has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict the man on any of the three counts.

A number of exhibits, including CCTV, have been provided to the jury.

The trial continues.