THE officer tasked with investigations allegations a woman was raped by two Ulster rugby players admitted yesterday there were "significant inconsistencies" between what the complainant told a doctor and what she ultimately told police.
The detective constable, from the PSNI's Rape Crime Unit, spent a second day in the witness box at Belfast Crown Court, where she agreed with a defence barrister about "inconsistencies" in accounts given in the aftermath of the alleged rape.
She also admitted there were "obvious questions" that could have been put to the complainant during her interview conducted two days after the incident - but said these specific types of interviews were more about getting a complainant's account rather than "pushing".
As the prosecution case concluded on day 24 of the high profile trial the police officer spent the morning being cross-examined by Frank O'Donoghue QC, the barrister representing Stuart Olding.
The 24 year-old has been accused of orally raping the woman at the centre of the trial at the same time she was being raped from behind by 26 year-old Paddy Jackson.
Both men have denied rape, and claim any sexual activity in the bedroom of Mr Jackson's Oakleigh Park home in Belfast in the early hours of June 28, 2016 was consensual, while Jackson denies a further charge of sexual assault.
Two other men have also been charged with offences arising from the alleged incident.
Blane McIlroy (26), from Royal Lodge Road in Belfast, has been charged with and denies exposure, while 25-year old Rory Harrison is fighting charge of perverting the course of justice, and withholding information.
The investigating officer was asked about specific allegations the woman made against Mr Olding, with Mr O'Donoghue saying she gave two different accounts during interview.
Mr O'Donoghue spoke of other questions that it appeared were not put to the woman during interview - including questions about taking her top off, what happened to her shoes when her jeans were being taken off.
The officer was also asked about "inconsistencies" in the account the woman gave to a doctor at the Rowan sexual assault referral centre in Antrim.
The jury has already heard that the then 19-year old told the doctor she was vaginally raped by two men - with no mention of forced oral sex.
Mr O'Donoghue asked the officer that after receiving the doctor's report "you must have said to yourself 'What in God's name is this?'"
The policewoman said she wouldn't have used those words.
She did, however, agree there were inconsistencies between what the woman told the doctor and what she told police.
It also emerged during the investigating officer's cross-examination that when Mr Olding attended Musgrave Street on June 30, 2016 where he was arrested on suspicion of rape, he handed his house keys in.
Whilst he was being interviewed, police used these keys to search his house in a bid to locate the clothes he was wearing on the evening in question.
The court heard officers did not locate the jeans, shirt and shoes, with Mr O'Donoghue telling the court "Mr Olding will say he was not told his house was being searched."
Also called to give evidence was the senior investigating officer, who was asked about a lack of notes in her log prior to July 6, 2016 regarding a witness to the scene in Paddy Jackson's bedroom.
She was questioned by Brendan Kelly QC, the barrister representing Mr Jackson, about the importance of this eye witness and why this was not included in her notebook. She replied: "I have no explanation as to why that was not included."
The trial, which will not sit today due to the weather and legal arguments, is set to resume on Monday.
Telling the jury the trial is now due to begin "the next stage", Judge Smyth said: "The defendants have an option to give evidence if they wish, or to call witnesses on their behalf."
