A MAN accused of murdering his girlfriend claimed she had told him she had been raped by two strangers, according to a Garda witness at the Central Criminal Court yesterday. The accused man told the garda he had found her in Athy, Co Kildare, with her trousers open and top pulled up.
Det Garda Kevin Brady said the accused man, Mr Stephen Davis, had told him on the evening of October 20th, 1995 that he and Ms Mary Doogue were fighting in the early hours of that day.
Det Garda Brady was giving evidence on the fourth day of the trial of Mr Davis (20), of Clonmullin, Athy, who has denied the murder of Ms Mary Doogue (30) of the same address, on October 20th 1995.
The accused man, according to the detective garda, told him that he and Ms Doogue had an argument early on October 20th, and gardai arrived. Mr Davis said that when gardai spoke to him Ms Doogue disappeared.
He went looking for Ms Doogue but couldn't find her and had searched behind a bar where he said she had often hidden before. When he was walking opposite steps close to a church he heard moaning. He said he went down the steps and saw Ms Doogue lying on the ground.
Mr Davis said the front of her trousers was open and her top was pulled up, the witness said. Mr Davis said he asked Ms Doogue what had happened and she told him she had been followed by two men and raped. She had said she did not know who the men were, according to Mr Davis, who picked her up and carried her to their home.
The witness said Mr Davis told him he went straight upstairs and laid Ms Doogue on a bed. He went down to lock the door after the babysitter, and Ms Doogue came tumbling down the stairs on top of him and the babysitter.
Mr Davis said he picked Ms Doogue up and went back upstairs and put her in bed. Then, Det Garda Brady said, he told him he was unable to help the gardai any more.
Det Garda Brady said he asked Mr Davis why medical help was not sought and Mr Davis claimed Ms Doogue had said she was all right.
The witness said he arrested Mr Davis for the murder of Ms Doogue on October 21st and took him to Athy Garda station. Mr Davis was very quiet during the journey to Athy and asked if he would be able to see his child. He also asked what were the funeral arrangements and if he would be able to attend the funeral.
The trial before Mr Justice Budd and a jury continues.