The ulster rugby trial

[RedHand88]

This verdict and the way the trial was covered will certainly make any other girl think twice before she reports a rape. That's a very sad situation.

If the girl lied, and this was just something she made up to cover her embarrassment, then she has done a very grave disservice to other women. If that's the case, then I'm delighted the lads got off.

If she was telling the truth, and it just couldn't be proven, then I feel terribly sorry for her.

I think your first sentence is a bit of a stretch. The complainant lied when she first went to the doctor (saying she was vaginally raped by two people). With no other compelling evidence of rape and the eye witness not seeing rape, in her opinion; that seemed to be the key facts. With the judge saying the lie/exaggeration to the doctor is enough to mean all the complainant's evidence should be disregarded (which surprised me, but the judge knows the law) then it would make you question how this ever got to court.

Did that happen??

[AQMP]

This verdict and the way the trial was covered will certainly make any other girl think twice before she reports a rape. That's a very sad situation.

If the girl lied, and this was just something she made up to cover her embarrassment, then she has done a very grave disservice to other women. If that's the case, then I'm delighted the lads got off.

If she was telling the truth, and it just couldn't be proven, then I feel terribly sorry for her.

We'll probably never know.  But as one of the defense barristers said (paraphrase) "If you're fairly sure they did it, that's not enough to convict"

This is the reason why I think embarrassment drove this incident to court. The evidence to convict was never there, but the prospect of saving face could (not saying I'm correct) certainly have driven it (although in hindsight the media circus has blown that away) . No one is walking away from this unscathed

Surely that's the job of the PPS to determine??

Jackson's lawyers say his status as a famous sportsman drove the decision (by PPS I suppose) to prosecute

[Rufus T Firefly]

If the girl lied, and this was just something she made up to cover her embarrassment, then she has done a very grave disservice to other women. If that's the case, then I'm delighted the lads got off.

If she was telling the truth, and it just couldn't be proven, then I feel terribly sorry for her.

Probably an obvious thing to say AZ but yet my sentiments exactly. I really hope that justice has been served.

[Keyser soze]

Cannot say I am in any way surprised at this verdict, from quite early on it appeared to me to be a clear case of 'buyers remorse' on behalf of the complainant. (With the usual rider of following this at a distance via press reports and social media.)

What it highlights most though is the mad system of justice we have that this freakshow took 8 weeks and god knows how much public and indeed private money to stage.  The justice sysyem is designed and perpetuated to be a massive big money tree by the people who run it all working hand and glove to keep the money river flowing....justice fairness rightness etc all come a very very long way behind.

[Owen Brannigan]

No winners among defendants or complainant!

9 weeks and hundreds of thousands of pounds later, no conviction, someone at PPS needs to be asked why?  Did it go ahead because of who the defendants are?  Would the same effort been afforded a complainant and defendants from another social background or location in N.Ireland?

[Milltown Row2]

This verdict and the way the trial was covered will certainly make any other girl think twice before she reports a rape. That's a very sad situation.

If the girl lied, and this was just something she made up to cover her embarrassment, then she has done a very grave disservice to other women. If that's the case, then I'm delighted the lads got off.

If she was telling the truth, and it just couldn't be proven, then I feel terribly sorry for her.

I think your first sentence is a bit of a stretch. The complainant lied when she first went to the doctor (saying she was vaginally raped by two people). With no other compelling evidence of rape and the eye witness not seeing rape, in her opinion; that seemed to be the key facts. With the judge saying the lie/exaggeration to the doctor is enough to mean all the complainant's evidence should be disregarded (which surprised me, but the judge knows the law) then it would make you question how this ever got to court.

I don't think it's a stretch. the way the girl was filleted on the stand wouldn't inspire anyone to take a case. And the verdict (especially for women who believe her) is another body blow.

I said a few times what I think happened here, and I'm not surprised in the verdict.

Plenty of men believed her to, up to a point I believed in some of the stuff, but havent heard everything nor was i soley in one camp.. this was a sorry mess and I doubt very much it would stop someone coming forward that has been raped as there are a lot of other factors in rape that were missing here, that would convict someone else

[square_ball]

There is a #Ibelieveher hashtag on Twitter already

That has been there on twitter from the first day of the trial and then the subsequent #notmycaptain for Rory Best.

[magpie seanie]

This verdict and the way the trial was covered will certainly make any other girl think twice before she reports a rape. That's a very sad situation.

If the girl lied, and this was just something she made up to cover her embarrassment, then she has done a very grave disservice to other women. If that's the case, then I'm delighted the lads got off.

If she was telling the truth, and it just couldn't be proven, then I feel terribly sorry for her.

I think your first sentence is a bit of a stretch. The complainant lied when she first went to the doctor (saying she was vaginally raped by two people). With no other compelling evidence of rape and the eye witness not seeing rape, in her opinion; that seemed to be the key facts. With the judge saying the lie/exaggeration to the doctor is enough to mean all the complainant's evidence should be disregarded (which surprised me, but the judge knows the law) then it would make you question how this ever got to court.

Did that happen??

Of course not. That already had to be clarified on this thread. People see what they want to see.

[AQMP]

This verdict and the way the trial was covered will certainly make any other girl think twice before she reports a rape. That's a very sad situation.

If the girl lied, and this was just something she made up to cover her embarrassment, then she has done a very grave disservice to other women. If that's the case, then I'm delighted the lads got off.

If she was telling the truth, and it just couldn't be proven, then I feel terribly sorry for her.

I think your first sentence is a bit of a stretch. The complainant lied when she first went to the doctor (saying she was vaginally raped by two people). With no other compelling evidence of rape and the eye witness not seeing rape, in her opinion; that seemed to be the key facts. With the judge saying the lie/exaggeration to the doctor is enough to mean all the complainant's evidence should be disregarded (which surprised me, but the judge knows the law) then it would make you question how this ever got to court.

Did that happen??

Yeah, was just about to ask what did the judge say in that regard??

[AZOffaly]

This verdict and the way the trial was covered will certainly make any other girl think twice before she reports a rape. That's a very sad situation.

If the girl lied, and this was just something she made up to cover her embarrassment, then she has done a very grave disservice to other women. If that's the case, then I'm delighted the lads got off.

If she was telling the truth, and it just couldn't be proven, then I feel terribly sorry for her.

I think your first sentence is a bit of a stretch. The complainant lied when she first went to the doctor (saying she was vaginally raped by two people). With no other compelling evidence of rape and the eye witness not seeing rape, in her opinion; that seemed to be the key facts. With the judge saying the lie/exaggeration to the doctor is enough to mean all the complainant's evidence should be disregarded (which surprised me, but the judge knows the law) then it would make you question how this ever got to court.

I don't think it's a stretch. the way the girl was filleted on the stand wouldn't inspire anyone to take a case. And the verdict (especially for women who believe her) is another body blow.

I said a few times what I think happened here, and I'm not surprised in the verdict.

Plenty of men believed her to, up to a point I believed in some of the stuff, but havent heard everything nor was i soley in one camp.. this was a sorry mess and I doubt very much it would stop someone coming forward that has been raped as there are a lot of other factors in rape that were missing here, that would convict someone else

I know they did. I'm talking specifically about how easy they might find it to report a rape, and how that might be influenced by the particular handling of this case.

[Tyrdub]

Big pressure now on Ulster Rugby. Acquitted after about 4 hours. They are in a tough spot, if indeed, the word is true they are gone no matter what.

how come? any proof?

Any proof of what?

proof they are gone? or is this a rumour?

[quit yo jibbajabba]

Party at Ollies anyone?! After party at Paddys hes told me, we're all invited...

[GetOverTheBar]

Big pressure now on Ulster Rugby. Acquitted after about 4 hours. They are in a tough spot, if indeed, the word is true they are gone no matter what.

how come? any proof?

Any proof of what?

proof they are gone? or is this a rumour?

Unofficial word from Ulster Rugby to sponsors prior to trial was to this effect.

[Avondhu star]

Unanimous verdict after nine weeks of evidence. The jury were in no doubt who was lying.
The Prosecution Service should have a good review of the decision to prosecute.

[Milltown Row2]

Party at Ollies anyone?! After party at Paddys hes told me, we're all invited...

In town with the better alf tomorrow, will have to keep an eye on her.. the top shaggers will be let loose

In all fairness, be interesting to see if this goes pubic with the IP, along the lines of a civil case....