Paddy Jackson - "not consistent with values"

[MotherForkinShirtBalls]

Jackson signing prompts ‘serious concerns’ from club sponsor Diageo www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/paddy-jackson-signing-prompts-serious-concerns-from-club-sponsor-diageo-1.3920656

What a shame.

JessicaWakefield I'm so sorry for what was done to you
It really hurts that rape still understood as the murder of the women and girls we were before the rape.
I hate it that rape is still the most victim blamed crime and that way too many people and companies fall over themselves to facilitate a rapist/woman abuser having a good future and opportunities.

I hope you have a lovely life now and all the scars (mental and physical) are fading.

*still isn't understood.

"Thoughtless mistake"? A thoughtless mistake is when you put on mis-matching shoes in the morning. FFS.

Look at how easy it was for Ched Evans to be accepted back into football. I know he was eventually found not guilty but his behaviour and attitude towards his victim was still terrible.

finnmcool

Thank you very much, such kind words. I was only 15 and was injured as well. I had no idea I was even raped. It took my sister to tell me, No, you’re not a slut, you were drunk and passed out from hitting your head, they raped you. I was way too scared and ashamed to go to the police- I’m glad I didn’t to be honest.

I have a lovely life now. I met my future husband not long after and we are together and very happy now

I know he was eventually found not guilty

Only because his filthy rich morally bankrupt in-laws launched a huge campaign to find anything on that poor girl, who had to be given a new identity, and 2 of her gross ex’s testified she ‘ said the same words during sex’. That trial was a farce and the judge despicable for allowing her previous sexual history to be admissible.

JessicaWakefield
I'm so pleased you went on to have a lovely life. That would be terrifying as an adult, nevermind a 15 year old girl.

I agree with you about that trial being an absolute farce!

finnmcool

Yes really confusing and hard to handle at that age. Months later my dad kicked me out in a violent rage so it was a pretty bad time!! But it’s like the universe sent me this wonderful guy just after it, who is the opposite of all the men who had hurt me. I consider myself to have had a very fortunate life overall I worry for the girls in these very public cases and how their life will turn out, if they get the support I eventually had. I don’t know how you’d move on without it.

JessicaWakefield
Jesus! It sounds like you went through the most horrific time! Right when you should have been able to focus on your impending exams, not being raped and then ending up homeless at the hands of someone who should have protected and taken care of you.
I can't articulate how delighted I am that you have gone on to have a good, happy, safe life!

The emotional and mental welfare of these young women concerns me greatly too.

I was a grown adult in my 30's when life as I knew it was destroyed and I'm still living with the fallout.

There is something very, very wrong in society when people feel the need to apologise for/explain rapists behaviour.
If they happen to be sportsmen, well, everything is forgiven and excused!

If they happen to be sportsmen, well, everything is forgiven and excused!

Tell me about it! I’m a kiwi and men who beat women play for our top teams without much ado at all. One is about to be called up for the All Blacks despite admitting he beat his partner on the street less than a year ago.

Yeah it was awful. It’s awful at any age and in any circumstance but there are things that impact our ability to move on and be happy. I hope you’re ok and it isn’t too hard for you now. I blacked out for most of it so I guess fortunately I don’t have the constant memory of the details of it. Mostly these days it’s cases like this that bring it up and affect me. It just makes me so bloody angry. I just feel like there’s nothing we can do sometimes.

for anyone affected, it’s really tough some days.

JessicaWakefield
I'm a lot better than I was, thank you for asking.
Unfortunately, I was aware during the entirety of the attack on me and it was in my home.The subsequent attack was within a minute of my home.
My attackers, their friends and family went on to stalk and harass me, which is how I ended up agoraphobic. To this day, things still happen that the police dismiss as minor, but I know it's them.

The most difficult thing for me, in terms of getting over it is...Due to the fact that I'm so traumatised (I have PTSD) I am still under the mental health team, but! I only get a maximum of 15 therapy sessions, so everytime they end, I go back on the waiting list and I have to keep repeating and reliving my trauma, with every new therapist.

I sometimes wonder if this damages me more than getting no help, if you know what I mean?

As an aside, they were all military and were massively protected by their hierarchy.

finnmcool

I am so so sorry. That is horrendous. I can completely understand what you’re saying about therapy. I have anxiety and therapy helped a lot, but I could only afford it for so long and the issues just come back. I am also inside my house a lot!

I do find meditation and certain apps help me when I commit to it every day.

Sending you big hugs x

PS fuck the police, they are so useless.

JessicaWakefield thank you for the hugs! We just keep pushing forward.

I know what you mean about being at home a lot.

Diageo has cancelled its sponsorship of rugby club London Irish due to plans to sign former Ireland out half Paddy Jackson - Irish Times

Excellent news I think.

Sorry, probably can't see it for looking but where is Diageo's email address? I'm an occasional Guinness drinker so should thank them.

I’ve sent a thank you note to Diageo and I will enjoy a pint of Guinness this weekend.

💐 to those on this thread who have suffered

Email address was further up this thread

Just came to post the good news and see it’s already here!

I’m very happy about this decision by both sponsors. Not because, as his fans on social media suggest, it punishes PJ. (I don’t think it does really) but because it reinforces (or raises?) standards expected of those playing professional sport. It’s says “these are our standards and this behaviour falls foul of them- this is not acceptable” I hope it gives other sponsors the confidence to do the same and gives clubs some pause for thought.

Yes was just coming on to see that this had appeared on my news feed. Well done to the sponsors.

I am particularly disappointed that there was no attempt to address his history when he signed. No apology, not even an expression of regret for what his actions may have caused without a specific apology.

And I think Irish' refusal to address this when they signed him was arrogant or niaeve or both.

I know there are a lot of people in the 'he was found not guilty so everything should be fine for him' camp but a not guilty verdict saves you from prison. It does not protect you from the consequences outside of the justice system.

Totally agree @ILoveMaxiBondi

Here's the link if anyone needs it

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-48629949

I think it's positive that the sponsors have listened to concerns of fans and others alike. LI response is a joke - "It is regretful that this relationship has ended in the manner that it has."

It's disgusting they put this vile man in the team and are willing to lose out not just financially but with fans as well.

I am so pleased to hear this, thanks for the update. I emailed them so I suspect I’ll get a response. I might send a thank you card even.

The ignorance on Twitter regarding this decision is terrifying. The fact that so many people cannot understand that while technically legal (by virtue of the fact he was acquitted) his behaviour was completely unacceptable is infuriating!

Long road to go but grateful for this small step by such a recognised brand.

I know there are a lot of people in the 'he was found not guilty so everything should be fine for him' camp but a not guilty verdict saves you from prison. It does not protect you from the consequences outside of the justice system.

Yes. All the “he was found innocent” cries are ignoring the fact his behaviour in texts alone was utterly appalling. He wasn’t found not guilty of that behaviour. That was admitted and agreed that he (and his buddies) did that. That behaviour alone would be enough for a club to pull sponsorship in my opinion.

Sorry, I meant a sponsor to pull sponsorship.