Downpatrick man goes on trial for rape of his daughter

Downpatrick man goes on trial for rape of his daughter

15 February 2012

THE trial has begun of a Downpatrick man accused of raping his daughter.

The man, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the alleged victim, appeared at Downpatrick Crown Court on Monday, where he denied eight counts of indecent assault, two of assault and one of rape.

The abuse allegedly started in the 1990s when his daughter was aged around six.

Prosecuting lawyer Richard Weir QC told the jury that police had initially interviewed the defendant many years ago but a decision was made not to pursue the case at the time due to the age of the victim.

He added that it was the girl’s mother who initially made a complaint to police.

The alleged victim described various assaults carried out in her parents’ bed while her mother was sleeping, in her own bedroom when her father came to say goodnight and in the hallway of their house when she was off school sick.

Describing one of the physical assaults, she said her father had “scrabbed” the sole of her foot with a knife when he had been making dinner one evening when she had been “giving him a bit of bother”.

She told the court the only inference he made to any abuse occurring was one day when they were outside playing.

“He said: ‘Do not tell mummy. If you tell mummy she will go away and die’.”

She also described a time when her father had put on a pornographic film for her to watch.

When asked by Judge David Smith QC what her reaction was to the alleged assaults at the time, she said: “I did not know it was wrong but I remember being confused about it, and did not really know what was happening.”

Defence barrister, Peter Irvine QC, suggested that the allegations against his client had been planted in the girl’s mind by her mother.

He pointed to an initial interview with the authorities when she had made no complaint of this nature against her father and suggested some of the terminology in the later police statement had been provided by her mother.

“Did your mother help you put together these statements and give you potential scenarios?” he said.

Mr. Irvine also suggested she could not have been abused in the parental bed while the mother was sleeping.

“There was no such incident in your mum and dad’s bed,” he said. “Is that not the truth? For whatever reason the account which is contained in your statement in 2000 and the account in your statement in 2010 is simply not true.”

She victim denied the barrister’s allegations, saying her account was the truth.

The alleged victim’s mother is due to give evidence later this week and the defence case is due to open next week.