Readers may find some parts of this report distressing

A woman who claims her husband raped her in 2014 has told his trial that she blames herself for not leaving him sooner.

Under cross-examination, she told his barrister that she should have left but is not responsible for his actions.

The woman claims her husband refused to accept their marriage was over and head butted her in their kitchen following an argument on May 2nd 2014.

A few weeks later, she claims he grabbed a large knife and threatened to cut her face off before forcing her to have sex with him.

He admits hitting her with a hammer three months later but denies all the other charges.

During cross-examination, Mr Padraig Dwyer - who is representing her husband - asked why she didn’t leave when he put the knife down.

And if she was in fear of her life in the lead up to the alleged rape, he asked why she did not take their son and go to a place of safety.

He told her she was a highly educated woman who would have been au fait with her rights and had ample opportunities to leave.

She said she was terrified and should have left, but didn’t and shouldn’t be held responsible for his actions.

Mr Dwyer’s cross-examination will resume on Monday.