History was made at the Central Criminal Court yesterday when evidence was taken via a live satellite video link from Australia.
Mr Justice Carney afterwards thanked the witness, Dr Susan Knowles, for her evidence from a courtroom in Perth.
Dr Knowles was giving evidence in the case of a young woman who alleges she was raped on Bray Head by a man she met shortly before in Dun Laoghaire. A 26-year-old Co Louth man has pleaded not guilty to raping her on September 18th, 1998.
Dr Knowles told Mr Anthony Sammon SC, prosecuting, the woman was anxious and upset when she examined her in the Rotunda Hospital on September 19th, 1998. She found multiple dot-like bruising on both sides of her neck and some redness in the vaginal area. The bruising could have been caused by pressure or sucking.
Dr Knowles agreed with Mr John Phelan SC, defending, there were many probable causes for the redness, including possibly the tight trousers the woman told the jury she was wearing. Dr Knowles further agreed there were no signs of violence having being used on her.
Det Garda Donna McGowan said the accused was arrested in October 1998 and denied he had intercourse with the woman but agreed to give a blood sample.
Det Garda McGowan said she and Det Sgt Patrick Campbell re-arrested the accused on March 16th, 1999 and asked him to explain why his blood sample matched stains found in the woman's underwear. He couldn't explain, and again denied he had sex with her. The hearing continues.