The Ballymun rape trial jury returns to the Central Criminal Court this morning to continue deliberations in the case.
The 28 year old accused man has pleaded not guilty in the rape, oral rape, attempted anal rape and aggravated sexual assault of a 35 year old mother of three on Ballymun waste ground during the early hours of March 18th, 1995.
Mr Justice Morris sent the jury of eight men and four women to a hotel last night after it deliberated on verdicts for over 90 minutes.
Yesterday a witness told Mr Brendan Grogan SC, defending, the defendant had been with him in Blanchardstown at the time of the rape. The witness denied a suggestion by Mr Joseph Mathews SC, prosecuting, that he was lying to protect his friend. The man also apologised to the court for not turning up on Wednesday, saying his girlfriend was in hospital. A bench warrant had been issued for his arrest.