A 23-year-old Co Clare graduate told a court yesterday that his godfather - who doted on him as a young child - repeatedly raped him in his teenage years.
At a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Ennis, the alleged victim said: "We would be locked into his bedroom. His wife and mother-in law would come to the door, but no one ever questioned what was going in. He raped me repeatedly there."
The 48-year-old accused man is facing 31 counts relating to the alleged sexual abuse of his godchild from 1987 to 2003.
The father of three is facing 19 separate counts of rape, dating from when his godchild was aged 12 to 21. The first rape is alleged to have occurred in 1994 and continued until 2003.
The accused also faces six counts of indecently assaulting and six counts of sexually assaulting his godchild from the age of five to 11 years of age.
In court yesterday before a jury of six men and six women, the accused pleaded not guilty to all counts.
In evidence, the alleged victim said his godfather "was very much respected by the family, he was much loved and took advantage of it".
The 23-year-old man said the accused "spoiled me and gave me pocket money for sweets". However, the alleged abuse started when he was aged five.
The accused's house was located not far from the home of the alleged victim. He told the court yesterday that the sexual assaults occurred quite frequently at three or four times a week.
The alleged victim said that he was first raped by his godfather when he was aged 12. He said: "I was trapped until I went to college. I never understood what was happening to me and never realised the true extent of it."
The case continues.