Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Ulster Rugby Rape Trial - Not guilty to all charges

980 replies

Quimby · 28/03/2018 12:35

Verdict just returned
Not guilty to all four accused, all unanimous decisions.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
CritEqual · 28/03/2018 13:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 28/03/2018 13:08

I agree with rockshandy

Hope she is ok and has support, she was very brave

PanGalaticGargleBlaster · 28/03/2018 13:08

So the jurors, who sat through every day of the trial and listened to all the evidence, got it wrong?

SpringNowPlease2018 · 28/03/2018 13:06

pallisers "I would do anything I could to stop my daughters reporting a rape."

um, what?

My mum warned me from a very young age to treat men with caution. As I became I a teenager I formed my own interpretation - treat them with extreme suspicion. If I had daughters I would be asking to do the same. There's no risk or problems in treating men with extreme suspicion.

I recently refused to let someone in my block of flats because I didn't recognise - I literally had to stand there and say "I don't recognise you, stand aside while I let the door close properly". He was very unhappy but I told him to fuck off. I'm sure he'll have a go if he sees me in the building - if he really is a neighbour - but I have a friend who was viciously attacked by someone who wandered in through the door behind her.

TheLastSoala · 28/03/2018 13:05

I very highly recommend the book “Night Games” by Anna Krien.

It’s an investigation of a rape of a girl in strickingly similar circumstances to this one, by members of a top Aussie Rules team.

It won the 2014 sports book of the year, and sensitively and intelligently goes into numerous aspects of the culture around sex within sports teams, how they are protected and why it is so hard to get convictions. As well as finding ways to look even handedly at the actions of everyone associated.

Vickxy · 28/03/2018 13:03

Not surprised at all sadly. I hope shes ok, and I believe her, for all thats worth.

pallisers · 28/03/2018 13:01

I'm not surprised at the acquittal

I would do anything I could to stop my daughters reporting a rape.

fia101 · 28/03/2018 13:00

Are any of us surprised with the verdict? Really?

TheVeryThing · 28/03/2018 13:00

I feel sick too, it so deeply depressing that women have minimal protection from rape under the legal system.

Snowqueeny75 · 28/03/2018 12:59

Me too treacle

sleepyhead · 28/03/2018 12:59

I couldn't, in all honesty, ever encourage a woman to report a rape. It's just not worth it.

Sailorjerrycherry · 28/03/2018 12:59

And people wonder why women are so reluctant to report rapes.

Heartbreaking.

rockshandy · 28/03/2018 12:59

YY treaclesoda. The comments on facebook have left me feeling ill.

Balonder · 28/03/2018 12:58

I am horrified. I have just watched my 7yo DD go outside to play and I have realised that I don't know how to teach her that society values her, that the law can't protect her

treaclesoda · 28/03/2018 12:57

I feel sick. Physically sick.

And the rape apologists on Twitter want her hung drawn and quartered. Angry

rockshandy · 28/03/2018 12:57

We are discussing a case in which the jury had to believe beyond ALL reasonable doubt that they were guilty if they were to find them guilty.

The jury had a doubt, and so they did the correct thing and found them not guilty.

I have no problem understanding that, and accepting that, and it is possible for me to accept that while also believing her.

sleepyhead · 28/03/2018 12:57

I know what kind of men they are from the words out of their own mouths, from the words in the messages they sent to each other. By their own behaviour after the event.

It may not have amounted to enough for a criminal conviction, but I see them. I know what they are and how they treat women.

DramaAlpaca · 28/03/2018 12:55

I believe her.

sleepyhead · 28/03/2018 12:54

I believe her. But her first instinct was the right one unfortunately - there was little hope of a conviction.

Revolting, revolting men.

anneoneill · 28/03/2018 12:53

Remember you are discussing innocent men before you go committing libel here, folks. Unless you have very deep pockets.

DisturblinglyOrangeScrambleEgg · 28/03/2018 12:50

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

rockshandy · 28/03/2018 12:47

If she should ever read this...

I believe you.

Justanotherzombie · 28/03/2018 12:46

We simply don't know. The only thing we're sure of is that these lads were/are jerks.

MayFayner · 28/03/2018 12:46

The jury were told to "draw a distinction between consent and submission" and this is the result.

Well. I believe her.

Collidascope · 28/03/2018 12:45

Well, that's a crash back to earth after the John Worboys decision. Poor, poor woman, going through all that.

Swipe left for the next trending thread