A jury in the trial of a Tipperary man charged with rape began hearing forensic evidence yesterday. A scientist attached to the Forensic Science Laboratory told the Central Criminal Court that she took fibre lifts from the man's clothing.
She also took fibres from the clothing worn by the woman and gave all the samples to another forensic scientist for analysis. She told Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, prosecuting, that she found bloodstaining and soil on the alleged victim's clothes. The blood was consistent with the woman's own blood.
The trial has already heard that the woman was menstruating at the time she was allegedly attacked and raped.
A 23-year-old man is pleading not guilty to charges of raping the woman, assaulting her and attempting to choke her with intent to enable him to rape her after midnight on September 4th-5th, 1994.
The first part of yesterday's hearing was taken up with legal discussions in the absence of the jury. The trial before Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness continues.