The car of a man accused of rape was seen parked near the alleged victim's Westmeath home shortly after she had complained of interference at her house in 1989, the trial heard yesterday.
A witness said the now 72-yearold woman had contacted his family with a CB radio they had given to her so she could call for help.
He used his motorcycle to search the area and came across the accused's car unoccupied.
The witness told the Central Criminal Court he met the accused some days later at his uncle's house and asked him what he was doing there that night. The accused blushed and replied he was behind the ditch waiting for "a flight" of ducks and didn't come out when witness stopped at his car because he didn't know who was there.
The witness told prosecuting counsel Mr George Birmingham SC that he found the accused's claim a bit surprising because it was nighttime.
He was giving evidence on the 12th day of the trial of a 56-yearold man who denies nine charges of rape and indecent assault on the woman on specific dates from 1983 to 1994 at her rural house.
The witness told Mr Birmingham, with Mr Feargal Kavanagh, that his home was nearest the woman's.
He participated in search parties of neighbours and gardai after attacks on her.
These searches could continue for several hours but nobody was ever apprehended.
The witness also recalled another occasion when he found wellington-boot footprints leading from the woman's house across several fields. He denied the suggestion by defence counsel Mr David Goldberg SC that he fancied himself as "something of a snoop" or "an investigator". The witness also agreed with Mr Goldberg there was nothing "sinister" in itself in the accused's car being parked where it was the night he encountered it and denied counsel's claim that he never had a conversation afterwards about it with the accused.
The witness's uncle told Mr Birmingham he recalled an occasion when his nephew and the accused were in his house at the same time.
The hearing continues before Mr Justice Quirke and a jury.