Trial of four men accused of raping woman at her Dublin home collapses

Woman, who is undergoing treatment for her mental health, was refused permission by court to give evidence via video link

Claire Henry and Sonya McLean, The Irish Times, Thu Oct 19 2023

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2023/10/19/trial-of-four-men-accused-of-raping-woman-at-her-dublin-home-collapses/

"Earlier this week, while the woman was being cross-examined by Dominic McGinn, defending the first accused, she became upset in the witness box and asked for permission to take a break.

Anne Rowland, prosecuting, later told Mr Justice David Keane that the woman was undergoing psychiatric treatment for an ongoing issue with her mental health. She said the State were liaising with the woman’s doctor to see if the woman was fit to continue with her evidence in the trial.

Ms Rowland indicated on Tuesday that due to medical advice, the State wished to apply to the court to allow for the woman to continue her evidence via video link. The State was not successful in this application.

On Wednesday, Ms Rowland told the court that the woman was not able to continue to give her evidence and she said the State wished to enter a nolle prosequi on each of the counts faced by each of the men, meaning all charges against the men were dropped.'