Case No. 2283Rape · Co. Dublin · 1 Jan 2019
Spanish tourist testifies at rape trial of 33-year-old Louth man in Dublin
A Spanish tourist has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court describing how she was allegedly raped by a 33-year-old man from Co Louth in the Dublin Castle area on New Year's Eve 2019. The man, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, is on trial before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court18 Feb
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports48 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe complainant is a Spanish tourist who came to Ireland to celebrate New Year's Eve. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant recalls being in a shop where she bought food, then feeling ill and vomiting. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOutside the shop, the complainant was approached by the defendant. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant told the man she was lost and asked for his help to get to a certain bar. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant leaned against the man as she was feeling tired. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe prosecution case is that the man had non-consensual sex with the woman around 2am. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatAfter the alleged rape, the man walked with the woman towards O'Connell Street where they parted. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant fell into the company of a man and a woman around 3am on O'Connell Street. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe complainant and the second man went to a hotel and had sexual activity around 5am. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman remembers the second man attempting to penetrate her anally but did not think he did. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWhen gardaí spoke to the woman, she alleged she had been raped by two men. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatWhen interviewed by gardaí, the defendant said the sexual intercourse had been consensual. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman recalls being in a shop where she bought food, then feeling ill and vomiting. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOutside the shop, she was approached by the defendant and asked for his help to get to a certain bar. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant and the second man went to a hotel and there was sexual activity between them around 5am. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWhen interviewed, the defendant said the sexual intercourse had been consensual. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant is a Spanish tourist (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe defendant is a 33-year-old man from County Louth (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman was in town to watch the fireworks on New Year's Eve (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman got separated from her friend (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman was standing outside a shop when she got talking to a man (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman had a tampon in at the time of the alleged rape (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman alleges the man had anal sex with her at a B&B (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman said she realised she had been raped twice (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman went to hospital with her friend after the incident (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman rang a friend in Spain on the afternoon of 1 January 2019 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe State alleges the woman was unable to consent due to the effects of alcohol or another drug (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe complainant found herself in an area with broken paving with the man. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe rape is alleged to have taken place in the Dublin Castle area. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe alleged rape took place in a street in the Dublin Castle area. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe alleged rape occurred on a street in the Dublin Castle area (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe complainant and a friend were in the city centre to see fireworks on 31 December. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenShe and a friend were in the city centre to see the fireworks on December 31st. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged rape took place on 1 January 2019 (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe complainant did not consent and was unable to consent due to the effects of alcohol or another drug. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe jury will see CCTV footage of the woman's movements on the night. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe woman went to hospital and medical staff made a report to gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe defendant was arrested by gardaí in late January 2019. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe woman later went to hospital and medical staff made a report to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCCTV footage showed the woman's arm linked with the defendant during the walk (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe 33-year-old man pleaded not guilty to one count of rape on 1 January 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe man pleaded not guilty to one count of rape on January 1st, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is expected to last for a week and a half and continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and the jury. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe man pleaded not guilty to one count of rape at the Central Criminal Court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs (irishmirror.ie)
- courtTony McGillicuddy SC is prosecuting (irishmirror.ie)
- courtNo charge has been brought against the second man (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial resumes on Monday for cross-examination of the complainant (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 21 Feb2025Tourist allegedly raped in Dublin says she felt 'like a doll' with no strength
The complainant gave testimony through a Spanish interpreter describing the alleged rape in a dark area near Dublin Castle and a second incident at a B&B. Defence counsel cross-examined an investigating garda on CCTV footage. The trial resumes on Monday for cross-examination of the complainant.
victim, female, Spanish, non-irishaccused, 33, male, irish (judged from name) - 18 Feb2025Man goes on trial accused of raping Spanish tourist in Dublin city centre
Reports the opening of the trial with prosecuting counsel Tony McGillicuddy outlining the prosecution case to the jury, including CCTV evidence, the sequence of events, and the key issue of consent.
victim, female, Spanish, non-irishaccused, 33, male - 18 Feb2025Man on trial for alleged rape of Spanish tourist on New Year's Day 2019
Provides details of the prosecution's opening address at the start of the trial, including the complainant's account of events, the key issue for the jury (consent), and the fact that no charge has been brought against a second man with whom the complainant also had sexual activity that night.
victim, female, Spanish, non-irishaccused, 33, male