Two deny teen rape at party after US hip-hop star’s Cork gig

A WOMAN has alleged that she was raped and held against her will at a party following a Jason Derulo concert in Cork almost four years ago.

The woman, who was 19 at the time, claims that the US hip-hop artist and his entourage went to a ‘VIP party’ at a nightclub in Cork following his concert in the city on June 27, 2014

She claims that Mr Derulo and his entourage left the party and that certain girls, including her, were invited to a further party on a double-storey vehicle, where she was falsely imprisoned and raped.

Two men, aged 35 and 44, have gone on trial, accused of the rape and false imprisonment of the then teenager. They deny the offences, which are alleged to have occurred in a vehicle at an unknown location in Cork city on June 27, 2014.

The 35-year-old man has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to rape, oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment.

The 44-year-old has pleaded not guilty to anal rape and false imprisonment of the woman on the same occasion. The accused men cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The court heard that Mr Derulo is not charged with any offence in relation to these alleged events.

Timothy O’Leary SC, prosecuting, told the jury there was a ‘VIP party’ at a nightclub, attended by Mr Derulo and his entourage. The complainant was also at the club.

Mr O’Leary said Mr Derulo and his entourage left the party and that certain girls, including the complainant, were asked if they wanted to go on to a further location.

Counsel said he believed the woman would say that she met various individuals on a vehicle at the second location, including a man with a cap and a second, larger man.

It was the prosecution’s case that the ‘cap guy’ was the 35-year-old accused and the larger person was the 44-year-old accused man.

The complainant is expected to tell the jury that she was brought upstairs in the vehicle by the ‘cap man’, where it is alleged that she was raped and sexually assaulted by this man. Mr O’Leary said she became aware of a second larger man, who it is alleged later also raped her.

The young woman is expected to give evidence on Monday.