Northern Ireland

Boy (16) allegedly raped in west Belfast park told police 'I thought I was going to be killed'

Gerard Scannell (40), previously of Ballymurphy Road in west Belfast, denies charges of rape and sexual assault
Gerard Scannell (40), previously of Ballymurphy Road in west Belfast, denies charges of rape and sexual assault Gerard Scannell (40), previously of Ballymurphy Road in west Belfast, denies charges of rape and sexual assault

A 16-year-old boy who claimed he was dragged into bushes and raped in a west Belfast park told police he thought he was going to be killed, a jury has heard.

Gerard Scannell (40) is standing trial at Belfast Crown Court accused of three counts of rape and of sexual assaulting the teenager in the early hours of July 16 2016.

Scannell, who is originally from Ballymurphy Road but is now living at an undisclosed address in another area of Belfast, denies the charges.

He has said that while he was socialising in local pubs prior to the alleged sex attack, he had no knowledge of or contact with the teenager.

As the Crown opened its case today, prosecuting barrister Jackie Orr said that when they had heard all the evidence in the case, they would be satisfied he was guilty of the offences.

The jury heard that before the alleged incident, the teenager had been drinking with friends and was walking alone along Norglen Parade in the early hours when he first became aware of an older man standing on the street.

He said the older man shouted "Yo" at him a couple of times, before asking his name.

The boy proceeded along the road and entered Falls Park via a gate. He said he became aware the older man was following him, and as he walked along the pathway he was "trailed back" by the t-shirt and "dragged backwards" into bushes.

It is here, the teenager claimed, that the older man took his own top off and then subjected him to a series of sexual assaults.

He told police: "I actually thought I was going to be killed, instead of what actually did happen."

The teenager, who is now 18, alleged that Scannell forced him to perform a sex act on him twice.

He said during one of the attacks, he told him to stop and that he wanted to go, and he was "screaming and shouting for help".

Police were told his ordeal came to an end when Scannell pushed his head back which sent him "flying back" - and at this point he got up and was able to flee.

The teenager said: "As I was running away, he was shouting 'get back over here now'."

He said he was able to run to a relative's house, but couldn't tell them what happened immediately as he "couldn't get the words out... I was crying".

Ms Orr said when police were informed, a search of the bushes was conducted and several items were recovered and forensically examined.

She also said that when Scannell's home was searched, clothes matching the description given by the teenager were located.

Scannell said on the evening in question he had been drinking in two bars in the area, that he left around 1am, and the next thing he remembers is waking up in his mother's house the following morning.

He consistently denied having any knowledge of or contact with the teenager, and denied allegations he had raped and sexually assaulted him.

At hearing.