A former Kildare publican has denied raping a 17-yearold girl he invited back to his house for a drink. The man told a jury at the Central Criminal Court that he had consensual sex with her. He said she later ran out of the house claiming she had been raped. He apologised for earlier denying he had penetrative sex with her.
The 52-year-old defendant had pleaded not guilty to raping the girl at his home on September 23rd, 1999. It was the third day of the trial.
He told Mr Erwan MillArden SC, defending, that he allowed the girl and another man to smoke cannabis in his house on the night of the alleged attack.
The trial continues.