250 hold protest outside Ulster Rugby game

Around 250 people have staged a protest outside Ulster Rugby's stadium ahead of the team's first home game since two players were acquitted of rape.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Apr 2018, 21:28 BST
Updated 13th Apr 2018, 21:36 BST
A rally calling for Ulster Rugby to address the behaviour of players takes place ahead of the club's first home match since the Belfast rape trial ended. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker PressA rally calling for Ulster Rugby to address the behaviour of players takes place ahead of the club's first home match since the Belfast rape trial ended. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press
A rally calling for Ulster Rugby to address the behaviour of players takes place ahead of the club's first home match since the Belfast rape trial ended. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press

Paddy Jackson, 26, and his 25-year-old Ireland and Ulster teammate Stuart Olding remain relieved of playing duties after being found not guilty of raping the same woman at a house party at Jackson’s home.

Ulster Rugby and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) are conducting a review into the incident in June 2016, with much focus now on a series of sexually explicit WhatsApp conversations revealed during the trial involving the players and their friends.

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Fellow Ulster and Ireland star Craig Gilroy, who was not involved in the trial, is also subject to a review because he was the author of one of the offensive messages which referred to women in derogatory terms.

Protesters outside the Kingspan stadium Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEyeProtesters outside the Kingspan stadium Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye
Protesters outside the Kingspan stadium Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Demonstrators gathered outside the Kingspan Stadium in east Belfast ahead of Ulster’s Pro14 match against the Ospreys to express solidarity with the woman at the centre of the case and call for changes to how complainants in rape trials are treated by the criminal justice system.

They also called for action against what they claim is a misogynistic culture within rugby.

The picket was organised by the Belfast Feminist Network.

Participant Aisling Cowan travelled from Larne, Co Antrim to attend.

PACEMAKER BELFAST 13/04/2018 A rally calling for Ulster Rugby to address the behaviour of players takes place ahead of the club's first home match since the Belfast rape trial ended. The demonstration, entitled 'Stamp out Misogyny at Ulster Rugby', is organised by Belfast Feminist Network and will take place before the team plays Welsh side Ospreys. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker PressPACEMAKER BELFAST 13/04/2018 A rally calling for Ulster Rugby to address the behaviour of players takes place ahead of the club's first home match since the Belfast rape trial ended. The demonstration, entitled 'Stamp out Misogyny at Ulster Rugby', is organised by Belfast Feminist Network and will take place before the team plays Welsh side Ospreys. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press
PACEMAKER BELFAST 13/04/2018 A rally calling for Ulster Rugby to address the behaviour of players takes place ahead of the club's first home match since the Belfast rape trial ended. The demonstration, entitled 'Stamp out Misogyny at Ulster Rugby', is organised by Belfast Feminist Network and will take place before the team plays Welsh side Ospreys. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press

“We want to see a change at Ulster Rugby,” she said.

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“This is about a toxic masculine culture that was really clear and became very prevalent during the trial.

“I am here as a woman to stand shoulder to shoulder with people to say women deserve better.

“We are not second-class citizens in Northern Ireland and we deserve to be treated just as well as the Ulster men.”

Protesters outside the Kingspan stadium Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEyeProtesters outside the Kingspan stadium Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye
Protesters outside the Kingspan stadium Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

An intense debate on the players’ future has been played out in newsprint and online since the verdicts.

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Campaigners calling for Jackson and Olding to be axed took out a prominent newspaper ad last week.

Supporters demanding their reinstatement followed suit with their own newspaper advert this week.

Thousands of people on both sides of the argument have also signed competing online petitions reflecting their views.

PACEMAKER BELFAST 13/04/2018 A rally calling for Ulster Rugby to address the behaviour of players takes place ahead of the club's first home match since the Belfast rape trial ended. The demonstration, entitled 'Stamp out Misogyny at Ulster Rugby', is organised by Belfast Feminist Network and will take place before the team plays Welsh side Ospreys. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker PressPACEMAKER BELFAST 13/04/2018 A rally calling for Ulster Rugby to address the behaviour of players takes place ahead of the club's first home match since the Belfast rape trial ended. The demonstration, entitled 'Stamp out Misogyny at Ulster Rugby', is organised by Belfast Feminist Network and will take place before the team plays Welsh side Ospreys. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press
PACEMAKER BELFAST 13/04/2018 A rally calling for Ulster Rugby to address the behaviour of players takes place ahead of the club's first home match since the Belfast rape trial ended. The demonstration, entitled 'Stamp out Misogyny at Ulster Rugby', is organised by Belfast Feminist Network and will take place before the team plays Welsh side Ospreys. Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press

Last month, a jury of eight men and three women found Jackson and Olding unanimously not guilty of rape after deliberating for three hours and 45 minutes after a marathon nine-week trial at Belfast Crown Court.

All jurors also acquitted Jackson of sexual assault.

Two other men, Blane McIlroy, 26, and Rory Harrison, 25, were also unanimously acquitted of lesser charges connected to the alleged incident.

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