Thoughts on #suemepaddy ?

[Xmaspost]

Another very disturbing development post trial ...

"Ulster and Ireland rugby player Paddy Jackson has said he intends to sue Labour Senator Aodhán Ó Riordáin for defamation after the politician sent a tweet in the wake of the Belfast rape trial verdicts."

www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/paddy-jackson-s-lawyers-say-he-intends-to-sue-aodh%C3%A1n-%C3%B3-riord%C3%A1in-over-tweet-1.3445578

You'll easily find a copy of the original tweet that caused offense.... can't believe he'd do that. I'm thinking I should sign up for twitter and post with#suemepaddy

Somebody has finally seen sense. Wonder if the club's sponsors had anything to do with it? Sadly I don't believe that the people at the centre of this could have come to the right conclusion of their own accord. The statement doesn't ring true. The WhatsApp messages tell the true story. #Idontbelievehim

What he actually is, is worried about his future career and earning prospects. These sorts of people like to present self-pity as being sorry and ashamed.

Oh, I don’t believe him, just saying that he’s changed the official tune.

If he's finally taking a bit of PR advice, the next sensible step would be to quietly drop any defamation proceedings. Or not issue in the first place.

I can't see the text of his apology .... has he apologised to her?
Or just apologised for how his behaviour has parted from the values his family taught him?

The former might have to be worded carefully given he is "not guilty" but would be the right thing to do.

The latter reads as self-serving.

He says that he is “ashamed” that a young woman left his house in a distressed state, here

Yeah, because that’s what his messages say. Shame.

Odd that his shame didn't make him stop his lawyers from putting that distressed young woman through hell in the witness box.

He said he has time to reflect on his behaviour since the trial ended. Does that include the time he wrote on twitter come to my house for party