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Original poster

Paddy Jackson hired for London Irish Rugby.

178 replies

StrippingTheVelvet · 07/05/2019 18:39

After a year with his tail between his legs, Paddy has now been hired by LIRFC. I have attached the list of their sponsors below if anyone has time to send an email or two asking them to put pressure on for the decision to be reconsidered. I'm very articulate, but if it makes it easier feel free to use my letter.

"Good afternoon

I was hoping you could clarify your position on whether Pump Technology expects a certain standard of behaviour from both the organisations they sponsor and those associated with them? I am disturbed to hear about the recent appointment of Paddy Jackson to LIRFC. As you financially support LIRFC one can only assume that you endorse their decisions.

Given the level of public prominence players have and that they are viewed as role models for our young men to aspire to, do you feel this appointment is appropriate and are you happy to be associated with and financially support this decision?

I would urge you to please discuss this with LIRFC in the same way as Ulster Rugby's sponsors did to ensure there was no negative impact on their businesses.

Kindest regards,"

OP posts:
BuzzPeakWankBobbly · 08/05/2019 07:53

MinecraftMother I didn't mean it to be snotty (genuinely) I'm sorry it comes across that way

Thanks for clarifying Flowers

JessicaWakefieldSV · 08/05/2019 07:24

Furthermore, as a mother I am seriously questioning whether rugby is a suitable sport for my young son, if this is how the sport views women.

I think most Male team sports have a problem, it’s the pack mentality. Alex Hepburn, cricketer, just got find guilty of raping a sleeping woman and the WhatsApp messages are also pretty dire. I wouldn’t want my son in a sport that is team based personally.

BumblingAlongNow · 08/05/2019 07:14

As an Irish woman living in London I am fucking disgusted at this and I will be letting the sponsors know. Furthermore, as a mother I am seriously questioning whether rugby is a suitable sport for my young son, if this is how the sport views women.
The details of how some of the senior LIRFC staff were formerly associated with Ulster rugby (and indeed with Jackson himself) is sickening and smacks of an old boys club that looks after its own. Quelle surprise...

OrchidInTheSun · 08/05/2019 05:49

You might also want to point out to the sponsors that Jackson is a racist

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ulster-rugby-players-wear-black-makeup-in-ethiopian-photo-paddy-jackson-dressed-as-slave-30424197.html

JustAnotherWoman · 07/05/2019 23:00

His name has become a byword for appalling treatment of women, London Irish decision is disheartening

Original poster
StrippingTheVelvet · 07/05/2019 20:37

I didn't read it as snotty Smile.

OP posts:
MinecraftMother · 07/05/2019 20:18

I didn't mean it to be snotty (genuinely) I'm sorry it comes across that way. I should reply when not making a white sauce with one hand, phone in the other.

LassOfFyvie · 07/05/2019 20:10

The jury found him not guilty of rape.

It is perfectly possible to be not guilty of a crime but still to have behaved in a way which brings one's employer/ profession/ sport into disrepute.

JessicaWakefieldSV · 07/05/2019 20:03

This is fucking disgraceful. They laughed about her crying and bleeding from a 1cm laceration inside her vagina. Their WhatsApp messages are completely unacceptable.

Meanwhile, a Tongan Australian player, Israel Folau will likely never play rugby again for an instagram post with a bible verse deemed homophobic. And NZ Fijian born Sevu Reece beat a woman, escaped conviction despite pleading guilty, now plays in super rugby and likely soon the All Blacks.

The hypocrisy.

Original poster
StrippingTheVelvet · 07/05/2019 19:33

My OP was meant to say NOT very articulate Blush.

Belfast Feminist Network explains the situation well.

"It is interesting to note that current LIRFC head coach Les Kiss was director of rugby at Ulster Rugby during the time when the rape accusation was made against Jackson and LIRFC director of rugby Declan Kidney also coached Jackson in his early days playing for Ireland. His move from French club Perpignan just one year after the conclusion of the rape case under the direction of these two influential men in Irish rugby leads us to question whether they learnt anything from the public outcry at Jackson’s behaviour. LIRFC’s social media posts today celebrating Jackson’s sporting achievements, even calling him ‘Irish fly-half’ with no acknowledgement of the circumstances as to why he no longer occupies that role, is disrespectful to all those who were caused such pain and distress through his words, attitudes and behaviour towards a young woman. While Ulster rugby took measures to address the legacy of this case for their club, doing the right thing by sacking the two players and undertaking training in consent and healthy relationships, ironically as Jackson and Olding left before that was put in place they are the least likely participants in the whole situation to have undergone any rehabilitation activities or been forced to examine their behaviour and learn from it."

OP posts:
SadlyMissTaken · 07/05/2019 19:31

The court found him innocent of rape. It didn't rule on his barbaric attitude and behaviour.

RockysMa · 07/05/2019 19:31

Thanks for highlighting this @StrippingTheVelvet I'll be sending my emails shortly

RockysMa · 07/05/2019 19:28

Get your facts right@whoatemytwix the court couldn't find him/them guilty. That's very different to being innocent

IToldYouIWasFreaky · 07/05/2019 19:25

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Original poster
StrippingTheVelvet · 07/05/2019 19:24

They decided he couldn't be found guilty without reasonable doubt. That's very different.

I do not think someone who calls young women sluts and penetrates them so hard that they're internally bruised and bleeding is a suitable role model. I don't want him to be in a position for young boys to look up to and aspire to be.

OP posts:
TheweewitchRoz · 07/05/2019 19:20

The texts etc weren't disputed - he's a vile individual who brought himself, family, club and country into disrepute, nothing to do with the court outcome @whoatemytwix

TheweewitchRoz · 07/05/2019 19:18

Disgusting to hear that but thanks for the info @StrippingTheVelvet - I've sent your email to all those organisations.

whoatemytwix · 07/05/2019 19:18

A witch hunt campaign on MN is not polite nor reasonable. We (you) May not like the verdict but at the end of the day the courts have decided he was innocent. Say what you will, if there are problems then target the justice system not the individual.

IToldYouIWasFreaky · 07/05/2019 19:18

They are not moving until summer 2020 unfortunately...one more season in Reading Hmm

Dyrne · 07/05/2019 19:12

Ugh. So glad London Irish are moving out of my home town. I don’t want that twat anywhere near me.

IToldYouIWasFreaky · 07/05/2019 19:10

It's a vile and shocking decision by London Irish. I am local and have often taken DS there for games as they market themselves as family friendly. I am not going back while they employ this man and I'd rather avoid their sponsors too so thank you for the info. I'll be emailing later.

Original poster
StrippingTheVelvet · 07/05/2019 19:06

I had thought I'd rather not go into detail as they would either already know who he is or Google would do a much better job of showing what happened whilst allowing me to remain reasonable and polite.

OP posts:
beanaseireann · 07/05/2019 19:05

I was just searching for previous threads on this case on Mumsnet as I had seen the London Irish announcement on Broadsheet ( an Irish app) and this thread came up. I am disgusted with London Irish and the two sponsors of the club I recognise- Guinness and Paddy whiskey. SadSadSad

BuzzPeakWankBobbly · 07/05/2019 19:04

Having googled it, I recognised and remembered the case, but had not immediately connected the individual's name.

No need to be so snotty about it, Minecraft HmmMy previous post was in the spirit of adding weight to OP's email suggestion.

Original poster
StrippingTheVelvet · 07/05/2019 19:01

Sorry, I wrongly assumed most women here would have heard of the Ulster Rugby case! When it's big news in your own backyard, it's easy to forget not everyone hears as much about it.

www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/inside-court-12-the-complete-story-of-the-belfast-rape-trial-1.3443620?mode=amp

OP posts: