Ulster Rugby trial -continued

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New thread.

He’s been banned for a fortnight

Ulster Rugby have put official (very short) statements on Twitter. Just don’t read the comments beneath them...the hard of thinking misogynists are out in force as usual. Ironically commenting on how the “keyboard warriors” have won - um, what do they think they are?

I had a PM at the start of the trial from a poster saying something like this had happened to someone close to them, the culprits being from UR. If it was you Bumble then I'm glad you're feeling brave enough to even think about being more vocal, that maybe the person involved might feel the same. If it wasn't, then there's more victims out there. I'm not sure if that's better or worse.

Tbh I couldn't give a fuck if they go to England or France. They want to be in the little pond that is NI with their families and, for one of them, long suffering GF. I'm delighted that has been taken away from them.

So pleased Ulster Rugby & the IRFU have sacked them.

Bumble, hope your friend gets some peace - in whatever form that might take.

I think there was financial compensation. Judging by remarks made to Marian Finucane by a reporter from BBC NI.

domthaveascooby...you are the one who referred to religion (Protestant) in your post. It was unnecessary and that is why people are commenting on what you said.

Don't bring religion into it...it doesn't have a place for the important and supportive discussions that are happening on this thread.

Credit to Bank of Ireland. Their statement was beautifully terse and unequivocal.

Bumble, I can't imagine the difficult position you are in..and I do not blame your friend for not coming forward. She is lucky to have you...

Annnnnnd....I made the mistake of reading the comments on Twitter...normally I can see both sides to an argument even if I fully support one side, but in this case I genuinely do not know how people are holding on to the views they have. If they have a sister, daughter, mother or are a woman then how can they support those men? I am reassured by the number of men (and of course women) posting their support of the IRFU outcome...it's not al bleak I suppose...

So Jackson and Olding have been sacked - contracts terminated. I wonder whether this is only until matters calm down and then they'll be offered contracts again or whether 'this is it' the end of the road in Irish rugby for them.

Also, there are quite a few comments that mention the fact this isn't the first time Paddy Jackson has been pulled up on his behaviour...does anyone know what that's about?

I've just seen the news on the BBC news app. Good for the IRFU!

I think scooby has a point. I also detect a lot of anger in the posts from white working-class prods in those comments. I don't think religion came into the incident itself, but it's my opinion that a lot of those men are angry that their privileges (male, religious, political, economic) are being chipped away. This case, where two fellas from the Protestant elite are being told "no" and women are protesting en masse and being listened to, is just bringing it to the fore again. They are a community under seige almost, and those posts show that they're a bit afraid and resentful of this brave new world they've found themselves in where they can't rely on old privileges to make their lives easier.

My own DF fits this type, but he's confronted daily and made to think more critically by his DDs and blow-in son in laws. Luckily he doesn't have Twitter!

So Jackson and Olding have been sacked - contracts terminated. I wonder whether this is only until matters calm down and then they'll be offered contracts again or whether 'this is it' the end of the road in Irish rugby for them.

This is the end of Irish rugby for them. None of us can say for sure just how much of an impact Bank of Ireland had on the final decision as maybe they'd have been out anyway. But reading between the lines it does seem like BoI made their continuing sponsorship contingent on Jackson and Olding being gone. I don't think BoI can go back on that. And while they are not Irish Rugby sponsors they are the title sponsors of both Munster and Leinster (the two most successful by far Irish teams), which means they hold a lot of sway in Irish rugby as a whole.

I'm really fucking angry that they were found not guilty and that the victim was put through the whole nastiness of that trial on top of their treatment of her. But she really has had a form of success here. They have lost their place on both teams. Their legal defence cost them both a fortune. And neither of them can ever, ever be sure that they can so much as get a spit free coffee again on this island.

I also think scooby and craic have a point. I have seen the most vitriol coming from that community too. Vitriol about the mere fact that women have got the actual nerve to protest about something, how dare they? Whilst simultaneously demanding to know if rape culture is such a big issue, why have women never complained about it before?

I'm really happy about this. Might make sportsmen think twice if they lose their career over behaving like misogynistic idiots. It sends a sign it's not acceptable.
I hope the complainant takes heart that they have faced at least some consequences for how they treated her.

They will go off to France to play for the next few seasons at least.

This is very good news.

I’ve been thinking about the trial, if it was a male rape and the facts were the same (internal bleeding, witnesses to how upset the victim was on the way home, etc), would the trial have gone the same way. It just seems that women are the defendant when it comes to rape cases.

I think they probably will go to France. But the great thing is that they will be nobodies there. No one will be impressed with their school rugby glory days. People won't know who they are. That will hit them where it hurts. Their egos led them to this place and now they'll be little fish in a big pond and they won't like it one bit.