 At the Central Criminal Court on Friday three men have gone on trial accused of gang-raping a woman at her Monaghan home after her boyfriend was beaten unconscious.It is alleged the boyfriend was assaulted several times before the victim was locked in a wardrobe and then taken out and raped by each of the three accused. They and the alleged victims are all foreign nationals living in Ireland.
During her evidence , the woman was ordered to stand in front of the accused as they sat in the witness box and identify them.
She identified two of the men as being in the house at the time but said she didn't recognise the third.
The first named accused (28), who also lived in the house at the time, is alleged to have falsely imprisoned the woman, to have raped her and assaulted her and her partner.
The second accused (20) is accused of assaulting the couple, falsely imprisoning the woman and raping her.
The third accused (20) is accused of raping her.
The alleged attacks took place between November 15 and November 19, 2010. All three accused have pleaded not guilty.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Conor Devally said the couple moved into the house with one of the accused, but that relations between them quickly deteriorated.
He said there was a "hostile, intimidating and bullying atmosphere" in the house and the male complainant was attacked several times
The woman is due to finish her evidence today (Monday).
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Monday, 23 January 2012 09:36