A county Clare woman has told the Central Criminal Court that she held hands and stayed with her former partner after he allegedly subjected her to a seven hour rape ordeal, because she felt sorry for him.
The 44 year old Clare man on trial for the alleged offences said he had intended to kill himself on the night in question, but drove to his pregnant ex girlfriends house carrying a gun instead because he wanted to show her how upset he was over their break-up, and not being allowed access to their other child.
The trial in Dublin is entering its eighth day.
Te 44 year old accused, originally from England has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges including various rape charges, and threatening to kill the woman in what Gardaí say was a seven hour ordeal at her home in Clare in September of 2007.
He told Gardaí he initially intended to kill himself with his cousin’s gun but decided to “visit” his then pregnant ex-partner because he wanted her to see how upset he was over their break-up, her drinking and her denying him access to their other baby – having seen her out earlier staggering with two other guys after closing time at the local pub.
The alleged victim told the jury of seven women and four men – that the sight of her ex-partner with a gun in his mouth was "one of the worst moments" but admitted she still held the accused hand in the Garda car as they were both driven from the scene where she alleges he raped her three times at gunpoint over several hours.
Asked why the Clare woman said she dared anyone to watch a person "about to blow their head off" and "not feel empathy, sympathy and all sorts "adding that "Even…after everything that he’s done I still don’t actually wish he was dead."
