A man on trial for raping a 20-year-old woman behind Cork City Hall in 1997 denied the charge before a jury at the Central Criminal Court.
The 29-year-old accused said the only complaint the victim made to him when they parted was over him not getting her a taxi home. He did not know why she was hysterical later on that night. He told the jury he had been drinking and had consumed about 10 pints and agreed that by midnight he was "staggering".
The jury of five men and seven women heard closing addresses from prosecuting counsel, Mr Ralph Sutton SC, and defence counsel, Mr Blaise O'Carroll SC.