This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-43595049
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Rugby rape trial juror's comments investigated | Rugby rape trial juror's comments investigated |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Comments posted online by a juror in the rugby rape trial have been referred to Northern Ireland's attorney general. | |
| The remarks, first reported in The Irish Times, were made in an internet forum after the verdict on Wednesday. | The remarks, first reported in The Irish Times, were made in an internet forum after the verdict on Wednesday. |
| All four accused were cleared of all the charges they faced after a nine-week trial. | All four accused were cleared of all the charges they faced after a nine-week trial. |
| The juror reportedly made the remarks in the comments section of an article about the acquittals in the trial. | The juror reportedly made the remarks in the comments section of an article about the acquittals in the trial. |
| A spokesman for Attorney General John Larkin's office confirmed that the matter had been referred to the Northern Ireland's senior law officer by Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan. | |
| Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison were cleared of all charges on Wednesday. | Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison were cleared of all charges on Wednesday. |
| The first comment allegedly appeared about eight hours after the jury delivered unanimous "not guilty" verdicts. | The first comment allegedly appeared about eight hours after the jury delivered unanimous "not guilty" verdicts. |
| The juror is said to have made a series of comments describing the trial, as well as answering questions from other users. | The juror is said to have made a series of comments describing the trial, as well as answering questions from other users. |
| The posts reportedly set out the reasons the jury came to its decision and defended the amount of time it took to reach a verdict. | The posts reportedly set out the reasons the jury came to its decision and defended the amount of time it took to reach a verdict. |
| 'Seemed to be authentic' | 'Seemed to be authentic' |
| Irish Times journalist Conor Gallagher said the comments were posted under a story about the verdict and purported to be from a juror in the case. | Irish Times journalist Conor Gallagher said the comments were posted under a story about the verdict and purported to be from a juror in the case. |
| "They seemed to be fairly accurate, they seemed to know a lot about the case; at first read, they seemed to be authentic," he told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster. | "They seemed to be fairly accurate, they seemed to know a lot about the case; at first read, they seemed to be authentic," he told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster. |
| "So we got in touch with the Public Prosecution Service and asked them about it and they got back to us and said they'd referred the matter on to the office of the Lord Chief Justice in Northern Ireland. | "So we got in touch with the Public Prosecution Service and asked them about it and they got back to us and said they'd referred the matter on to the office of the Lord Chief Justice in Northern Ireland. |
| "The Lord Chief Justice's office then told us they'd referred the matter on to the attorney general's office and to other relevant authorities." | "The Lord Chief Justice's office then told us they'd referred the matter on to the attorney general's office and to other relevant authorities." |
| Mr Gallagher said the attorney general's office got in touch with the juror and told them to take the comments down, which was then done. | Mr Gallagher said the attorney general's office got in touch with the juror and told them to take the comments down, which was then done. |
| He said the juror contacted the Irish Times on Thursday night and defended the comments. | He said the juror contacted the Irish Times on Thursday night and defended the comments. |
| "They [said they] didn't comment on anything related to the jury deliberations [and] therefore were not in breach of the [judge's] order," he said. | "They [said they] didn't comment on anything related to the jury deliberations [and] therefore were not in breach of the [judge's] order," he said. |
| "They were very worried, they said they were in trouble, the Lord Chief Justice's representative asked them if they have a solicitor." | "They were very worried, they said they were in trouble, the Lord Chief Justice's representative asked them if they have a solicitor." |
| Advice to jurors | Advice to jurors |
| The Gov.uk website issues advice to people called up to serve on a jury during a trial. | The Gov.uk website issues advice to people called up to serve on a jury during a trial. |
| "Don't discuss the trial with anyone until it's finished, except with other jury members in the deliberation room," it says. | "Don't discuss the trial with anyone until it's finished, except with other jury members in the deliberation room," it says. |
| "After the trial you mustn't talk about what happened in the deliberation room, even with family members. You can talk about what happened in the courtroom. | "After the trial you mustn't talk about what happened in the deliberation room, even with family members. You can talk about what happened in the courtroom. |
| "Don't post comments about the trial on social media websites like Facebook or Twitter - even after the trial's finished. | "Don't post comments about the trial on social media websites like Facebook or Twitter - even after the trial's finished. |
| "This is contempt of court and you can be fined or sent to prison." | "This is contempt of court and you can be fined or sent to prison." |
| The juror told the Irish Times that when Judge Patricia Smyth discharged the jury, she told them to go about their daily life but not to reveal discussions that took place within the jury room. | The juror told the Irish Times that when Judge Patricia Smyth discharged the jury, she told them to go about their daily life but not to reveal discussions that took place within the jury room. |
| When asked about the juror's comments, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: "We are aware of comments made on a social media platform." | When asked about the juror's comments, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: "We are aware of comments made on a social media platform." |
| Meanwhile, two people have also been questioned by police after allegedly revealing the identity of the complainant in the rape trial, the Belfast Telegraph reports. | Meanwhile, two people have also been questioned by police after allegedly revealing the identity of the complainant in the rape trial, the Belfast Telegraph reports. |
| Complainants in rape trials in Ireland and the UK are entitled to anonymity, and it is an offence to publish their identity. | Complainants in rape trials in Ireland and the UK are entitled to anonymity, and it is an offence to publish their identity. |
| A PSNI spokesman said two people had been interviewed in relation to an offence under Section 5 of the UK's Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992. | A PSNI spokesman said two people had been interviewed in relation to an offence under Section 5 of the UK's Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992. |
| The spokesman said the investigation was ongoing and two files had been forwarded to the Public Prosecutions Service for consideration. | The spokesman said the investigation was ongoing and two files had been forwarded to the Public Prosecutions Service for consideration. |