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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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
GreenSeededGrape · 30/03/2018 23:48

Engaging

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 30/03/2018 23:50

You’re right green. Don’t know why I ignored my own advice.

TheCraicDealer · 30/03/2018 23:54

The amount of posters on Facebook and Reddit saying there wasn't the evidence to get this to court in the first place baffles me. Her internal injuries, the witness evidence from the taxi driver and Dara Florence, the blood on her clothes, Harrison's "economy" with the truth, her immediate report to her friend and Harrison the following morning then attendance at the Rowan Centre for examination, deletion of messages, the lack of corroboration with their versions of events, the convienent meeting the following day- what more do they want? Body cam footage?! She even tried scrabbing his arm to get him to stop, but he obviously explained that away by saying she did that when seducing him Hmm

The standard of proof that some people expect is incredible. They think there's some hard and fast evidence and the reality is that for most rape cases that doesn't exist. But the fact that any female over the age of 12 reporting a rape is viewed with suspicion despite the rate of false reports being no more than other crimes depresses me no end.

She couldn't have done anything more, and I think that's the most fucking tragic thing about this case. She had no chance. Something has to change.

CapnHaddock · 30/03/2018 23:55

Oh just ignore box. This is a really good thread - don't let him kill it.

boxthefox · 30/03/2018 23:57

Sometimes it takes someone with a heart to actually debate all this and not report others for an opposing view.

That is just so ridiculous and knee jerkingly easy. But off you go.

OkPedro · 31/03/2018 00:05

I agree with Maryz
Someone is looking to have this discussion shut down
So please don't engage

I wonder how that solicitor thinks they can sue Aodhan O'Riordan
He didn't mention any names and MANY people have made similar comments regarding #ibelieveher
Are they going to sue thousands of twitter users

OkPedro · 31/03/2018 00:10

thecraicdealer
These people think the victim agreeing to go back to a party and possibly kissing a man flirting etc means she can't have been raped
I agree people seem to want actual video evidence
This woman was looking for fame to be a wag she must have made it up

I have a 9 year old dd I am so afraid of her growing up and facing this shit just because she's a woman

CarrotyO · 31/03/2018 00:12

Just ignore him. If mumsnet had any compassion they would block him not delete the thread.

myrtleWilson · 31/03/2018 00:15

I am interested in the Icelandic law change but I have to say when I saw it a year or two ago (I forget exactly - so apologies) but the tea analogy was brilliant - does anyone know if the tea analogy is used in schools - why not advertised on tv etc. I know this won't alone stop rape but surely (maybe naïvely) more change will be brought about by cultural change rather than retrospective legal action (I know its not an either or) I suppose I'm thinking of - and I acknowledge its a very poor analogy - the clink clunk message about seat belts or the change in attitude to drink driving. Yes there is a legal backstop but actually the change came more from cultural appropriation and peer expectations?

gluteustothemaximus · 31/03/2018 00:19

Are they going to sue thousands of twitter users

Yes, this is what prompted the #suemepaddy 😂

rockshandy · 31/03/2018 00:28

www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/823-alleged-rapes-reported-northern-14477973

From the article:

If we use the PSNI’s own 2016/17 figures , it would suggest rape reports now have a 1.8% chance of resulting in a guilty verdict – when, if Home Office calculations are to be believed, 96% of victims are telling the truth.

Speechless really. 1.8%?

OkPedro · 31/03/2018 00:28

Ah I've only just caught up with the suemepaddy gluteus thanks!

Xenophile · 31/03/2018 00:38

I would hope that the recent idea of talking about consent from pretty much birth would eventually pay dividends, but I don't hold out enormous hope.

Rapists know what rape is, it's not a mistake or an oversight or anything like it, they know what they're doing, and they know they will almost certainly get away with it even if the woman reports.

By present trends, it's estimated that a rapist has a 2 in 1,000 chance of being convicted for their crimes, those are very good odds of getting clean away with it. If you're the kind of man who gets his kicks from constantly watching women being raped every which way in porn, then those odds must look really enticing actually.

We have seen, from the enormous backlog of rape kits in various places in the USA which are only now being worked, that rapists rarely strike once. Maybe those men get a taste for it, or maybe they've weighed up the odds of getting caught, going to trial, being convicted and receiving an appropriate sentence? Given also that we know that the vast majority of rapes are committed by men that their victims know, it does raise questions about how these men are allowed to get away with it for as long as they are, and, if they are well off enough or charming enough how much longer they will get away with it, even if pulled in for questioning. Much of the world seems to spend a lot of time making excuses for these types of men, we've seen it on this thread even. None of these things are their victims' fault.

These examples are only in the West, when we know that rape is a worldwide problem and a well worn weapon of war and has been probably since the birth of patriarchal social systems. We make a huge error when we suggest that rapists in the West are somehow more honourable than their brothers in crime in the rest of the world.

I wonder, as a thought experiment, and without any judgement, how many of the men's legal teams would be willing to let their daughters, nieces, granddaughters go to a party those young men from Ulster Rugby attend?

thebewilderness · 31/03/2018 01:18

The authorities on pedophilia say that they offend an average of 200 times before they are caught.
The evidence from rape kits being processed are beginning to show a similar frequency.

thebewilderness · 31/03/2018 01:23

Keep digging, Box.

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 31/03/2018 01:25

Wow! 200 times. That’s some faith in the odds being in your favour. They don’t get that kind of confidence from nowhere.

thebewilderness · 31/03/2018 01:27

It is because children are so easy to get access to and so easily threatened. I know this from personal experience as well as study.

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 31/03/2018 01:29

Sad Thanks bewildered

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 31/03/2018 01:31

Sorry, bewilderness

CarrotyO · 31/03/2018 01:41

Roosts know exactly what they are doing. They get off on women’s pain and humiliation.

CarrotyO · 31/03/2018 01:42

*rapists

OkPedro · 31/03/2018 01:58

Well yes because rape isn't about sex at all
I was in my 20's before I realised that 😥

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 31/03/2018 09:12

What zibbi said

And im not angry

donthaveascooby · 31/03/2018 09:21

Brilliant from twitter:

"He never told anyone not to comment on it. So I just presumed he was enjoying the comments. Im sure if he said no everyone would have respected his decision. Then my friends wanted to comment on him&he never said no. I assumed he was consenting #suemepaddy"

Isthisnameacceptable01 · 31/03/2018 09:40

Hope the marches organised today get a good turn out.