Ulster Rugby Rape Trial - Not guilty to all charges

[Quimby]

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

i think you're clutching at straws word. To suggest all women treat any man who's not successful (by your definition a rich sportsman - not my definition at all but each to their own) with contempt is offensive and completely ludicrous!

Misogyny, along with rape apologists and attitudes like yours, breeds misogyny.

“So I saw a tweet where someone mentioned that defendants were on the stand less than a day each, but the victim a week.

Says it all, no?”

But this is a natural consequence of prosecuting 4 co-accused together surely. The alternative would have been to prosecute them separately and have her go through the same ordeal 4 times just in 1.5/2days bursts

Also how long the prosecution choose to cross examine each accused is a matter entirely for them and has nothing to do with the defence.
If a leading QC decided that it was better strategy or case management to go with brevity than he probably had a reason

"I'm saying that the image of attractive young women desperately trying to associate with men they otherwise would treat with contempt - because of their status, breeds misogyny. "

Your opinion is bizarre, @wordtothewise. You think young attractive women should not be attracted and associate with young attractive and successful men? You think that young attractive women would treat this kind of man (young, attractive, physically fit) with contempt unless they are successful/high status? Why? What do you base that on?

why men should respect women who chase after these rugby stars etc.

Well, even if they haven't got the humanity, manners or decency to respect women one would have thought they would at least respect themselves. But clearly not. Evolution is obviously working extremely slowly in the case of these bell ends. You don't even need to think they were guilty of rape to know that these are odious individuals who should not be trusted within a country mile of any female.

Glad to hear this evening that the PSNI are pursuing the reports of people publishing the woman’s identity on social media.

If the very brave, incredible survivor ever comes to see this thread, I want you to know, what you did, was so incredibly important, so incredibly brave. Many, many women, and some men I'm sure, stand with you, some of us share your pain, we share your tears, we share your rage.

They weren't found not guilty in a vacuum. They were found not guilty of a crime defined by men, surrounded by laws created by men, by a "justice system" designed by men, in a court of men, in a rape culture supported by men.

We stand with you. We believe you. You are not alone.

Well for the first time ever, apart from the public memorial service in Omagh after the bomb, I have gone to a public rally. Missed the start of it as had to drive into the city centre in my lunch break to the courthouse but yes it was heartening to see the flowers and messages and all the people (mostly women, I noticed; but well done to the men who came). And a big wave to all the people meeting in Dublin, Derry, Cork and elsewhere.

Jean Hatchet has a fundraiser for the complainant, on Go Fund Me.

£565 of £5,000 goal raised in 10 hours.

This case illustrates how stacked against women the criminal justice system is regarding rape cases (I suspect male rape victims suffer similarly, though their numbers are far, far lower).

I was thinking about this. I think that if they had picked up a random young man in a gay bar and treated him like a piece of meat, and he made a complaint to the police, they'd be in prison tonight. Or at the very least there would be almost universal condemnation on social media etc. Because people would say 'well, it's very humiliating for a man to admit to that, so why would he make it up?'. But women's bodies are open to public scrutiny from when they are about 12 years old and it doesn't cross a lot of people's minds that a rape is humiliating to a woman, and having her body discussed in court is humiliating. They think that women love attention, so somehow they enjoy it.

I was at the rally in Belfast. People started chanting 'we believe her' and it was quite moving. I was pleased to see so many men there actually, I'd thought there would only be about five of them. It was, as expected, predominantly women, but there were a significant number of men.

treaclesoda that is great to hear. I saw some photos online of men attending. Lots of support in Dublin too.

Thank you for that update treaclesoda

Heartwarming to hear.

Thank you powershowerforanhour

You women are great!

I’m really pleased to hear there was a rally to support her. I keep thinking about that poor young woman.

I hope those pieces of excrement Jackson and Olding see how many of us stand behind their victim. We know what they did.

I'm saying that the image of attractive young women desperately trying to associate with men they otherwise would treat with contempt - because of their status, breeds misogyny. There is more than a bit of truth to this image whether you care to admit it or not.

The problem with this particular zombie lie is is in the "desperately trying to associate with" aspect of the 'what did she expect choosing a bad boy over a nice guy' argument.

We are not "desperately trying to associate" when we say good morning or hello. A smile is not a come on. Being polite to men does not mean we want to fuck them. Refusing an invitation from a stranger is not treating him with contempt.
It is the aggrieved entitlement of predatory males that breeds misogyny, not young girls saying no thank you to them.

I am at that rally in heart and spirit.
I hope she is getting some comfort from the huge wave of support.

I feel sick to my stomach

I've just seen this news. I had been following, and felt that surely, given the WhatsApp transcripts, that she was telling the truth.

The way these vile men spoke about her, was disgusting. And they all got away with it.

No I never reported mine. No I never would. And no, I would never encourage a woman to report rape. It is 2 years of hell. No one believes you, and you're the one on trial.

I feel sick.

Awful. I felt tears of rage when I read the verdict.

The woman was so brave and I am in admiration of her that she says she does not regret going to court.

Irish women are so brace to go in these rallies. I wish there was a rally when that cunt footballer was acquitted. I also wished marched up to paddy Jackson home.

I went to the march in Dublin. It was well attended. I saw two young women -separately - crying like their hearts were going to break, being comforted by their friends. They must have their own stories. I felt for them

Sorry I meant brave not brace

Irishfeminist

I was at work so 8 donated to the fund. Just to show her solidarity.

If 4 men tortured an animal they'd have faced consequenc3s and nobody would have blamed the animal.

Feel so sickened by men's comments on line too.

There’s a petition about this if anyone would like to sign:

my.uplift.ie/petitions/i-believe-her

Text from the petition:

“Dear Chief and Lord Justices,

Women across Ireland do not feel that they can report sexual assault for fear they will be even more traumatised by the process.

The Belfast Rape Case has brought this into sharp focus. The case has sparked a nationwide conversation about how rape and sexual assault cases are conducted.
The woman involved was shamed publicly. She didn’t even have her own legal representation.

From rape crisis centres, to policing and legal experts, there is widespread agreement that our court system makes it very difficult for victims of sexual assault to report their experiences.

It’s vital that people who have been sexually assaulted feel that they can come forward. Otherwise, rapists will never be brought to justice and our whole society is less safe.
We, the undersigned, call on you to show leadership in making the changes needed to the judicial systems on the island of Ireland so that victims have faith and trust in the process of seeking justice.

It’s time that all involved are treated in a manner in keeping with the basic principles of a decent and just society.”