Taxi driver goes on trial accused of raping two young women in separate incidents

Opening the case for the State on Wednesday, prosecuting senior counsel Gerardine Small said each woman had been separately socialising in Dublin city centre after work and had met friends for drinks.

Each woman later found themselves in a taxi after a night out and they each allege they were raped in the car.

The first incident allegedly took place in June 2022, while the second occurred in August. The women are not acquaintances or known to each other, the court was told.

The accused man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies the allegations. When interviewed by gardaí, he told them in a prepared statement that any sexual encounter between him and the women was initiated by each woman and was consensual.

Ms Small told the jury that while the allegations are dealt with in the same trial, each is “separate and distinct” and they must consider each allegation individually.

The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and the jury.