Woman alleges she was dragged into car and later raped

A Limerick woman has told a jury at the Central Criminal Court she was dragged into a car in 1996 by a man who later raped her…

A Limerick woman has told a jury at the Central Criminal Court she was dragged into a car in 1996 by a man who later raped her in a field when she tried to escape from him.

She said she thought he was going to kill her. After he raped her he said he knew where she lived and warned her not to tell anyone or he would kill her.

The now 23-year-old woman recalled how some hours after she had been assaulted she went to a pub where her rapist said he had been playing music earlier. She noticed the accused's name as the person listed as the performer. She had also seen a guitar in his car.

She told the jury she picked out the accused "instantly" almost a year later in an identity parade in Henry Street Garda station. The 32-year-old accused denies raping the woman.

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The alleged victim agreed in cross-examination by defence counsel Mr Brendan Grogan SC that she had not given a description of the accused or his car in statements to gardai in April 1997.

She also agreed with Mr Grogan that she had made a separate allegation of sexual assault on another occasion against a man - the boyfriend of one of her friends.

Earlier, she told prosecuting counsel Mr John Edwards SC she had been accosted by a man in a red car, but had rejected the offer of a lift home and he had driven after her.

The hearing continues.