The second day of a rape trial at the Central Criminal Court has been told that the defendant described the events between him and the alleged victim as "not rape, but a very big misunderstanding". He allegedly said the misunderstanding arose because "she thought I was trying to rape her, and I wanted to prove I wasn't".
The 29-year-old-man from Donegal denies rape and sexual assault. Garda John Harkin, who interviewed him two days after the alleged incident on July 20th, 1998, told the jury he did not make any allegations against the woman.
He agreed with Mr Brendan Grogan SC, defending, that the defendant did not appear to be hiding anything during the interview. Garda Harkin said he also told gardai that she had said she did not believe in sex before marriage and did not want to have sex with him. He thought she wanted sex with him despite this, but in hindsight he realised he could have been wrong.
He said she did not resist him verbally until it came to the point of actual intercourse. The hearing continues.