To be absolutely heartbroken for the girl who's thong was used against her in a rape case

[easielouisie]

Incase you haven't seen it:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46207304

Its been a long day and I'm very tired but I am so completely heartbroken for this girl and feel so hopeless for us ever getting anywhere, it's like one step forwards ten steps back.

I've just got in and am sobbing for her, how can a female solicitor turn on a young potential rape victim and dangle a thong for the duty to ponder if she was asking for it. I'm horrified this is remotely accepted no wonder girls don't want to come forward its humiliation at its finest.

A similar thing happened years ago and a young girl had to read out the slogan "little devil" from the thong she wore when she was raped. She killed herself following the trial.

AIBU to feel like we'll never get anywhere and people will always be disgusting? I wouldn't be responsible for my actions if I met that woman.

Just hurts my heart how cruel life is sometimes

Wtf was wrong with the judge and jury?
Why was this allowed.

Maybe a mumsnet campaign?

Perhaps we should all wear clothes emblazoned with the words;
" Don't fucking touch me, you pervert! " in order to get the message across that no, I did not want to be in any kind of physical contact with you.

Let's start a MN campaign where all women wear thongs over their clothes to demonstrate it is a normal thing to do
Honestly men and their dicks totally govern this planet. For God's sake.

I am so tired. So tired that this is happening in 2018. I am so sorry for that woman who was raped for all woman that are raped.

It isnt our knickers or lack of them. It is rapist men.

what do we need for a rape conviction nowadays?
A witness saw that the rapist had his hand on her throat!!

I don't know the ins and outs of the case but from what I've read, muddy field, witness saying he had hold of her neck, being a virgin, saying she didn't want to! don't amount up to a great picture.

OP I don’t understand what this means?

Although your technically true Tom, many barristers won’t do criminal law at all due to rape cases and that’s what I meant, I should have been clearer.

WTF is the world coming to? I wear thongs everyday, I find them comfy and like not having VPL. Clearly this now means I must be asking for it, all the time. FFS. Poor, poor girl.

How did he know she was wearing the thong....????
It's an absolute disgrace.. heartbroken for that poor girl..
That barrister what a rotten disgusting thing to do and say about a young girl..has she not been through enough..
And to hear someone say today that "the girl wasn't the victim but he was as he was falsely accused as he was acquitted....how fucking dare people..
They wonder why so many find it so hard and don't report rapes..

Fucking disgusting of the barrister. I wear thongs for riding because they're comfortable, not because I'm 'asking for it". Utterly disgraceful in this day and age. How about teach your son not to rape? Much more appropriate.

Looking forward to the mugging trial where the gentleman is told - well, you were wearing a Rolex, what did you expect?

Don't know why my comment was deleted. However said with the greatest respect MNHQ may be able to stop me saying what I like, but They'll never be able to stop me thinking what I like.

Perhaps all thongs need to be embellished with "No consent"? I mean, they don't take our word for it but listen to what our underwear says.

Poor girl. What a shit world we live in.

It's so fucking disgusting. So I should be 'allowed' to be raped as well too as I wear nice undies sometimes?!

It's ridiculous!

Ruth Coppinger (Irish member of Parliament) is a shero for bringing it up in the Dail

I find it strange that many, including several posters here, believe that sexual history should not be allowed to be raised in rape cases, and yet some are stating the victim's sexual history in this case (ie. a virgin), which was raised by the prosecution, is a clear sign of the defendant's guilt!
I note that O’Connell raised the issue of the thong in closing arguments, and can find nothing that says it was raised earlier. In most court systems there is a strict rule that completely new "evidence" can not be presented during closing arguments, and I wonder if the Irish system is different or if the Judge made a serious error in allowing it? If it was raised earlier, then the prosecution should have ripped it to shreds.

I’m so pleased to read that everyone on this thread feels as disgusted as me about this story. I say that, as I shared this story on Facebook, expressing my outrage, and only 1 ‘friend’ ‘liked’ it, and it’s not received any comments. I was shocked and outraged, particularly as many of my ‘friends’ are parents, and/or work with young people. Sorry I didn’t share a photo of a cute cat or a selfie, but l feel there are more pressing issues to be shared.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the poor young girl concerned, and also how wearing the ‘wrong underwear’ may now prevent other victims from coming forward in the future. Utterly despicable.

This broke my heart too OP, i am so so unbelievably angry for her, it has sickened me. How bloody dare they. Such absolutely backwards and offensive logic behind the use of the underwear as evidence, it makes you wonder if we are getting anywhere at all. The barrister shouldn't be allowed until properly educated out let alone to practise.

I cannot even comprehend how this must feel for her, to be let down in this way by a trusted justice system is horrifying, particularly after being brave enough to report as she has done. I truly hope this does not put even more women off of reporting sex crimes. What can we all do except keep shouting that it is wrong.

Perhaps we should start a petition to get debated in parliament. I don't know exactly how to phrase it, but "ban on discussing the claimants clothing in court for rape trials, except where the clothing has undergone forensic analysis". I don't know how to phrase the wording for the exception bit, but I mean that it should have to have a tangible basis beyond "she wore black lace knickers so was clearly asking for it" 😡

Totally agree with you OP.

There has been a big backlash in Ireland about this case and protests.

It’s absolutely horrible and unacceptable and I hope the career of that barrister is impacted.

Fuck having a broken heart, we need to get raging about this, protest, petition, riot, show solidarity and stick up for this girl. It could be your daughter next.

Are posters aware it happened in Ireland ?The rape and the court case.
And there have been protests. An Irish (female) TD ( MP) brought a thong into the Dáil ( the Irish Parliament) and made a strong statement about it. There have been marches.

Ruth Coppinger was interviewed on Woman's Hour about this. Thank God for women like her who are NOT going to let this absolute outrage pass unremarked.

It should matter if she only wears a thong to avoid VPL- she can wear one because she feels sexy in it if she likes... still doesn’t mean she consented!
Unfortunately, if the jury represents the average person they are likely to not agree.

It's an absolute disgrace. That defence barrister should feel heartily ashamed of herself.