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Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding not guilty of rape | Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding not guilty of rape |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ireland and Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding have been cleared of rape. | Ireland and Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding have been cleared of rape. |
They both denied raping the same woman in Mr Jackson's house in the early hours of 28 June 2016. | |
Blane McIlroy, who was accused of exposure, and Rory Harrison, who was charged with perverting the course of justice and withholding information, were also found not guilty. | Blane McIlroy, who was accused of exposure, and Rory Harrison, who was charged with perverting the course of justice and withholding information, were also found not guilty. |
The verdicts came in the ninth week of the trial. | The verdicts came in the ninth week of the trial. |
Mr Jackson was also cleared of a charge of sexual assault. | |
The jury of eight men and three women deliberated for three hours and 45 minutes before delivering their unanimous verdicts. | The jury of eight men and three women deliberated for three hours and 45 minutes before delivering their unanimous verdicts. |
Before discharging the 11-person jury, Judge Patricia Smyth told them: "This has probably been the most difficult trial that any jury in Northern Ireland has ever been asked to adjudicate on." | Before discharging the 11-person jury, Judge Patricia Smyth told them: "This has probably been the most difficult trial that any jury in Northern Ireland has ever been asked to adjudicate on." |
Outside the courthouse, Paddy Jackson thanked the judge and jury for "giving him a fair trial" as well as his family and legal team. | |
His solicitor, Joe McVeigh, hit out at the investigation into Mr Jackson. | |
"It's our belief that the investigation has been characterised by the turning of a blind eye to inadequacies in the evidence of the complainant combined with the very apparent investigative bias," he said. | |
He added: "The prosecution made much of a perceived privileged position provided by virtue of Paddy being an international rugby player. | |
"We say that it was this very status as a famous sportsman that drove the decision to prosecute in the first place." | |
At the court | At the court |
by Mark Simpson, BBC News NI | by Mark Simpson, BBC News NI |
There was no reaction from the four defendants in the dock as the verdicts were announced. | There was no reaction from the four defendants in the dock as the verdicts were announced. |
They simply stood and stared in front of them as, one by one, the not guilty verdicts were read out by the chairperson of the jury. | They simply stood and stared in front of them as, one by one, the not guilty verdicts were read out by the chairperson of the jury. |
A number of their friends and family were in tears in the public gallery. | A number of their friends and family were in tears in the public gallery. |
Outside Court 12, Paddy Jackson hugged members of his legal team, as well as friends and family. | Outside Court 12, Paddy Jackson hugged members of his legal team, as well as friends and family. |
Relatives of all the four accused attended every day of the 42-day trial. | Relatives of all the four accused attended every day of the 42-day trial. |
The case was only scheduled to last five weeks. In the end, it went on for eight-and-a-half weeks. | The case was only scheduled to last five weeks. In the end, it went on for eight-and-a-half weeks. |
Blane McIlroy made no comment as he left with his parents and legal team. | |
More than 100 people gathered outside the courthouse after the verdicts were announced. | |
In a joint statement, the Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Rugby said it had "undoubtedly been a difficult and extremely traumatic time for all involved". | |
They added that an internal review had been postponed pending the end of judicial proceedings and that a review committee has been appointed and "will conclude its review as soon as practicable". | |
"The players will continue to be relieved of all duties while the review committee is in process and determining its findings." | |
The verdicts came at the end of a 42-day trial. | |
The 12-person jury which started hearing the case was later reduced to 11 after a juror took ill. | The 12-person jury which started hearing the case was later reduced to 11 after a juror took ill. |
In total, 30 witnesses gave evidence, including 10 police officers, the four defendants, the alleged victim and the taxi driver who drove her home on the night in question. | In total, 30 witnesses gave evidence, including 10 police officers, the four defendants, the alleged victim and the taxi driver who drove her home on the night in question. |
The court sat on weekdays, but, to try to make up lost time, there was one Saturday sitting. | The court sat on weekdays, but, to try to make up lost time, there was one Saturday sitting. |
Some hearings in the eight-and-a-half week trial were taken up with legal arguments, in the absence of the jury. | |
On the second week of the trial, the jury was taken to see the layout of Paddy Jackson's house. | On the second week of the trial, the jury was taken to see the layout of Paddy Jackson's house. |
All the other proceedings have taken place in Court 12 at Laganside courts complex. On most days, the 100-seat public gallery has been full. | All the other proceedings have taken place in Court 12 at Laganside courts complex. On most days, the 100-seat public gallery has been full. |
Paddy Jackson, 26, from Oakleigh Park, Belfast, and his Ireland and Ulster teammate Stuart Olding, 25, of Ardenlee Street in the city, denied raping the same woman at a house in south Belfast in June 2016. | Paddy Jackson, 26, from Oakleigh Park, Belfast, and his Ireland and Ulster teammate Stuart Olding, 25, of Ardenlee Street in the city, denied raping the same woman at a house in south Belfast in June 2016. |
Mr Jackson denied a further charge of sexual assault. | |
Blane McIlroy, 26, of Royal Lodge Road, Belfast, denied exposure while Rory Harrison, 25, of Manse Road, denied perverting the course of justice and withholding information. |