Girl raped in house, court told

A GIRL with learning difficulties had sex with two men so she would be allowed to leave a house, the High Court heard yesterday.

The 15-year-old told police, who found her near a bus station last week, she knew neither by name.

One of the accused, Romanian Razvan Stefanica, 19, of Lisanally Lane in Armagh, denies charges of false imprisonment and raping the girl on three separate dates.

The poultry worker admitted in interviews he had sex with her but said he thought she was an adult. And he denied the girl was forced to stay at the house. Prosecutors said police were called last Thursday after friends of the girl informed her mother she was at a property with foreign nationals.

When found she claimed to have spent up to an hour having sex with two men at Stefanica’s home.

A Crown lawyer said: “The injured party...also stated that they asked her age on arrival and she informed them she was only 15.”

The court heard she described repeatedly saying “no” and at no stage gave consent. The prosecutor alleged Stefanica also asked the girl if her parents would be concerned about her.

Defence barrister Barry Mckenna told the court the girl had come to his client’s home, and disputed claims she was being held.

He added: “He did not deny sexual contact had taken place and, remarkably, self-disclosed previous sexual activity.”

Granting bail, Judge Brian Sherrard ordered Stefanica to have no contact with the alleged victim.