The trial by jury of a man who stands accused of raping his niece when she was seven years old resumed this morning after having been suspended yesterday pending an appeal over procedure.

The defence had appealed after the presiding judge stopped it from asking a question to the mother of the victim. The prosecution had objected to the question.

The Court of Appeal this morning upheld the decision of the judge and fined the defence €230, saying the appeal was frivolous.

The accused, whose name cannot be published by court order, is alleged to have raped his niece at their grandmother's house 10 years ago. He was 17 at the time.