The jury has begun its deliberations in the trial of an Irish celebrity accused of engaging in sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl.

The man, who is now in his 40s but cannot be named for legal reasons, denies the allegations against him.

He is accused of engaging in three sexual acts with the then 16-year-old girl when he was in his 20s in Dublin in 2010.

The complainant says she initially told the celebrity she was 18 at a music festival but later texted him that she was actually 16.

She says they engaged in three sexual acts – twice in his home and once in his work.

Summing up their case, the prosecution said the complainant was credible and coherent in her evidence.

The celebrity has said the then-girl was never in his home, with his barrister saying the complainant had laid fantasy over reality.

As a second line of defence, the man also says he honestly believed she was over the legal age of 17.

Judge Pauline Codd began her charge to the jury yesterday and continued it this morning.

She told the jurors that the case is now 13 years old and is essentially one person's word against another's.

Judge Codd said all the complainants phone messages are lost and the Gardaí could only get limited messages from the celebrity’s phone.

She said this is very much a case of ‘I said, he said.’

She also told the jurors they shouldn’t be concerned with the consequences of their decision and their verdict should be based on a dispassionate synopsis.