Ulster Rugby trial -continued

Once again Lastgirl has to put her bigoted two cents in..

I found this thread hugely supportive and you and a few others are responsible for derailing it...well done, take a pat on the back.

I also want to say that it is because of people like you, with your small-minded attitudes, that I will never live in N Ireland again. Turns my stomach..

Some people are Protestant, some people are Catholic...there are no differences between them other than a few beliefs.

Get. Over. It.

I agree with others that it seems to be a new thread now and has evolved into a discussion of issues I don't feel able to contribute to and am not sure of the relevance of to the original topic.

However, thank you for the thought-provoking discussions and shared articles on the original topic of the trial and the consequences of that.

There's a strong tradition of women working together throughout the difficult times in NI's past, and it's been evident over the past few months. Its sad to see the divisions on this thread but I too remain heartened by what has been achieved.

Lastgirl you make me very sad it's shocking if you boil this down to the old worn "them and us". Does everything that can unite us divide ultimately due to the anachronistic bipartisan sectarian nonsense. This is about standing against a culture that is deeply misogynistic, on both sides of the divide. Let's pretend there isn't a divide and look to unite behind a culture that respects women (well everyone for that matter)

Yes rugby is a protestant game in Ulster, yes these are middle class lads but the issues that the trial has presented cut across class and communities. I have been heartened to see Munster rugby flags at rallies, to see protests in the south and to note the breadth of the signatures on the IRFU petition.

I have been pleased by Ulster and the IRFU's response. I thought it was going to be a whitewash after I saw the MJ McB interview, fortunately it wasn't.

Let's be positive move on, and upward fighting wrongs that effect us all, and challenging what is clearly an unjust society wherever.

BelfastConnection said this on Sunday:

This thread may have reached its natural conclusion. The players will no longer play for Ulster, they have been publicly judged, raising awareness and levels of revulsion for them and suspicion of a culture of misogyny in the rugby club. Thees players, no doubt, will be asked to play for another club but that doesn't take away the progress that has been made in challenging unacceptable, unthinking male sporting culture.

I’m going to echo those sentiments and thank everyone who positively contributed to this thread I found it very beneficial.

Then, I’m going to lose the moral high ground before signing off, by telling Lastgirlontheleft they are a bloody joke who gives ‘Derry girls’ a bad name.

Agree lastgirl, you cannot say who is & isn't Irish. Nor can you speak for 'your community'. We're talking about our country & the wider world and their attitudes to women. Making it more them & us is not helpful. The misogynistic attitudes it seems, sadly pervade all religions and communities. As we've seen, bringing religion into this argument doesn't progress the conversation anywhere & there is no evidence (that I'm aware of), that a persons religious beliefs or lack thereof, has any weighting on the likeliness of them becoming a perpetrator or victim of sexual abuse.

Not above criticism, probably above phrenology though.

@eloisesparkle yes I love Louise O'Neil and have mentioned her before. I think she is an amazing Irish feminist. That book is brilliant and so relevant to this case it's scary.

Highly recommend it - she writes articles also and speaks really well and in Ireland has really tried to put the conversation around consent into the mainstream.

I agree-KRW seemed to take the verdict as another boost to their corporate ego & went a step too far. Ordered that book & followed her on Twitter. Off to look at the survey now.

I am delighted that PJ and SO are having to fuck off elsewhere. I'm glad that their lives have been inconvenienced, even in such a small way.

I hope that this is a lesson to men, sportsmen and sporting organisations. And to KRW, whose crowing post trial and further victimisation of the complainant did their client no good whatever. Indeed I consider their comments to the media to be very similar to the "Top shaggers" and "Legends" WhatsApp messages.

Or should I just bow my low sloping brow and avert my sunken hollow eyes in deference to your belated lip service.... sorry heat felt benevolence

Really good to know what mnhq think of Irish people.

Thanks for showing your true colours

Yeah! thanks for pointing out that it's gone Zibb.
I had a disappointing response from @MNHQ to my report of Sashh's post, initially.
They must have had a re-think.

Thanks HQ.

I have read Asking For It and positively reviewed it and got so far four other people to read it and am buying her new books in hardback to support her. We need voices like her.

Honestly, if you read Louise O’Neill and support her, folllow her on Twitter, leave a good review on Amazon, buy her books. (I am not on affiliated to her btw, but she’s been AMAZING on this issue and she needs everyone’s practical support to keep doing what she does.

If we cannot get redress through the courts, if we cannot rely on due process, then we can fictionalise our experiences (so as not to get sued) and speak up that way.

Me too I would make bad juror as well.

ann I agree with you.

just 96 percent of rape complaints do not result in a conviction. Unless you think the majority of complainants are liars, that means a substantial number of rapists are getting away with it.

I would also be a bad juror as I tend to think cases of all kinds don't even get to court unless there is a high chance the person was guilty.

I’ve read Asking For It. It’s very powerful and very depressing.

boilingkettle I think the link to this survey should be hung from the rafters. Everyone should spread through their networks. It's so important.

Open letter and a call for survey responses from a number of victims agencies about changes to the legal system in the wake of the case:

link