An Englishman has denied in evidence to a jury at the Central Criminal Court that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old Co Louth girl over an eight-year period. He said he had no idea why she should make "fraudulent claims" against him.
The defendant, in his evidence on the third day of the trial, said he came to live in Ireland abut 20 years ago and became friendly with the alleged victim's family. He told the jury that the alleged victim's father "would have said it upfront" if he had thought he was interfering with his daughter. "He would go through you if he thought anything wrong was going on," he added during cross-examination by Mr Kenneth Mills SC (with Mr Roderick O'Hanlon), prosecuting.
The 53-year-old defendant has pleaded not guilty to 14 offences on dates from 1989 to 1997.
He denies seven charges of indecent assault, three of forced oral sex, three charges of having unlawful carnal knowledge when she was under 15, and one of unlawful carnal knowledge of her on February 9th, 1997 when she was over 15 but under 17.
The trial before Mr Justice Cyril Kelly continues.