Chants of “I believe her” and “I stand with her” rang through cities across Ireland as hundreds turned out to protest the Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding rape trial verdict.
Hundreds of protesters turned out in Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford today to protest the verdict in the Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding rape trial. The Ulster and Ireland rugby players were acquitted of rape in the Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday following a high-profile eight-week trial and three hours and 45 minutes of deliberation from the eight-man and three-woman jury.
Hours after they and two others, Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison, were found not guilty, plans were put in place to protest the way in which rape is tried in Ireland, with large groups turning out to rally on Thursday afternoon and #IBelieveHer trending on social media throughout the day.
Read more: Irish rugby players found not guilty in massively public Belfast rape case
Belfast (where the trial took place):
This is happening at Laganside Courts right now. But you might not see it on the news later. #IBelieveHer pic.twitter.com/OgoHqAsFxH
— Laura Caughey (@el_cee17) March 29, 2018
Some footage from the turn out today at Lagan Side Court in Belfast to stand in solidarity with victims of rape and sexual assault #IBelieveHer pic.twitter.com/JG7ifevvPa
— Lauren (@laurenduddy) March 29, 2018
The crowd outside Laganside Court today chanted #IBelieveHer during rally held in solidarity with rape victims. pic.twitter.com/sWz2rlJQye
— Kelly_VIEW (@Kelly_VIEW) March 29, 2018
Dublin:
That's the crowd now at the #IBelieveHer rally. It's stopped raining also. pic.twitter.com/QZeDOm6aNs
— Cormac Fitzgerald (@Cormfitz) March 29, 2018
Solidarity rally with Belfast rape complainant blocking O’Connell street pic.twitter.com/70YTzr1njJ
— Juliette Gash (@JulietteGash) March 29, 2018
Unreal #IBelieveHer pic.twitter.com/ZZlRCFZiwg
— Karen Buckley (@toteslol) March 29, 2018
Cork:
Massive crowds outside Cork City Hall for the #IBelieveHer solidarity rally. We cannot blame victims anymore🌼 #IStillBelieveHer pic.twitter.com/YJMqD0DJQl
— Kate (@katekelly_) March 29, 2018
Emotional but powerful demo in Cork in protest of the system that fails victims of sexual violence so utterly #IBelieveHer pic.twitter.com/zXNCWMkagX
— Fiona Ryan (@CllrFionaRyan) March 29, 2018
We believe her. #Cork #IBelieveHer pic.twitter.com/0D3Amqeque
— Theresa O'Keefe (@Theresa_OKeefe) March 29, 2018
Waterford:
#IStillBelieveHer demonstration in #Waterford pic.twitter.com/E5TPjyNU5b
— Martina Collender 🐞 (@Teenycollender) March 29, 2018
Limerick:
Here in #LimerickCity, we're here to say #IBelieveHer ✊🏼❤️🤘🏽 pic.twitter.com/EwDJLKXz48
— Jen Ronan (@JayRow) March 29, 2018
Limerick #IBelieveHer pic.twitter.com/vCgcFniMP4
— Yvonne Ryan-Fogarty (@YvonneRyF) March 29, 2018
Both Jackson, 26, and Olding, 25, were standing trial for the rape of the same woman in Jackson’s bedroom in his home in south Belfast on June 28, 2016. Blane McIlroy was also accused of exposure while a fourth man Rory Harrison was charged with perverting the course of justice and withholding information. All four were found not guilty.
The alleged incident was said to have taken place in June 2016 when the four men accused and four women went to Jackson’s house in south Belfast after a night out. Jackson was accused of following one of the women, a 19-year-old student, upstairs when she went to retrieve her purse. She claimed he then pushed her onto his bed and raped her.
Read more: Man arrested in India over rape and murder of Irish women
Olding was also accused of raping the same woman, while McIlroy was accused of entering the bedroom naked and asking the woman for sex. Harrison was accused of covering up the alleged rape by misleading police and withholding information during the investigation.
Jackson has consistently denied having sex with the woman while Olding claimed the oral sex was consensual.
Did you protest today? Where did you go and why? Let us know in the comments section, below.
Comments