The trial of a Garda accused of sexually assaulting a woman at Aughrim Garda Station has reached its closing stages, with the accused taking the stand today.
Garda William Ryan, who was the sole member stationed at Aughrim at the time, denies the allegations, claiming that everything that happened was “fully consensual.”
Closing speeches began this afternoon.
The prosecution alleges that Garda William Ryan sexually assaulted the woman three times at Aughrim Garda Station on a date in September 2020.
He is also accused of falsely imprisoning her at the station on the same date.
Defence
The defence contends that the woman is lying about the events.
From the stand today, Garda Ryan claimed that she was the one who propositioned him.
He claimed that she exposed her breasts to him before following him upstairs, where some consensual sexual activity took place between them.
He also denied her claim that he prevented her from leaving the station by locking the side door through which she had entered.
The jury will receive directions from the judge on Thursday before beginning their deliberations.
Main image: Garda lantern at Castlepollard Garda Station. Image: KarlMPhotography / Alamy
