The trial has opened at the Central Criminal Court of a man accused of sexually abusing and ill-treating his son.
The man (52), who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to 23 charges of oral and anal rape; 24 charges of sexual assault and one charge of the wilful neglect or ill-treatment of the same boy on dates between April 11th, 2001 and June 23rd, 2004.
The offences are alleged to have occurred while the boy was aged between 12 and 15 years old.
Opening the case, prosecuting counsel Aileen Donnelly told the jury in that they may find some of evidence in the case distressing or may feel sympathy for a man accused of such offences but asked them to approach the case clinically.
She said they can not nor should they act out of sympathy or ill will for any party in the case.
Ms Donnelly said it would be alleged that there was an incident where the child injured his arm after a fall and when he came home his father twisted his arms.
She said the boy was treated in a local hospital and was referred on to a large hospital but instead of driving his son there directly he allegedly stopped off in a pub.
Ms Donnelly said it would be alleged that the sexual assaults began when the boy was 12 and continued on a frequent basis until June 2004.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of seven men and five woman.