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Feminists to stage rally at Ulster rugby match after rape acquittal Feminists stage rally at Ulster rugby match after rape acquittal
(about 7 hours later)
Hundreds of protesters are preparing to gather at the home of Ulster Rugby as organisers of the demonstration say they want to “stamp out” misogyny and sexism in sport amid the controversy over two Irish internationals cleared of rape. More than 300 feminist campaigners and women’s rights groups took part in a protest outside the home of Ulster rugby on Friday to highlight what they say is a prevailing culture of misogyny in the sport following the recent trial of two Irish internationals.
In the run-up to Ulster’s clash with Welsh side Osprey at the Kingspan stadium in Belfast on Friday night, the group coordinating the protests say they want rugby and other sporting bodies to address what they claim are prevailing misogynistic attitudes. They staged their demonstration on a grassy area facing the entrance to Kingspan stadium ahead of Ulster’s clash with Welsh side Ospreys.
The demonstration is part of a wider movement – appearing online under #IBelieveHer – that has sprung up across Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic after the acquittal of the Ireland rugby internationals Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding for rape last month.The demonstration is part of a wider movement – appearing online under #IBelieveHer – that has sprung up across Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic after the acquittal of the Ireland rugby internationals Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding for rape last month.
One of their friends, Blane McIlroy, was found not guilty of indecent exposure; another, Rory Harrison, was cleared of perverting the course of justice and withholding information.One of their friends, Blane McIlroy, was found not guilty of indecent exposure; another, Rory Harrison, was cleared of perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
A 21-year-old woman alleged she had been raped and sexually assaulted at a party at Jackson’s house in Belfast in June 2016. During the trial, the court was shown messages the defendants sent to each other describing the woman as having been “hysterical” and “there was a bit of spit roasting going on last night”. Although there was a large police presence on the avenue which runs parallel to the stadium, the atmosphere between Ulster supporters and the demonstrators was generally civil.
Twenty-four hours after the men were all found not guilty last month, up to 1,000 people demonstrated outside Belfast’s Laganside courts criticising the trial but also demanding that Jackson and Olding no longer play for province or country. The only discordant note was struck when a teenage girl ran across the road and opened her coat to reveal a T-shirt with the slogan: “I support Paddy Jackson” emblazoned on it. A man who was accompanying the girl wearing an Ulster tracksuit top took a picture of her as she posed in front of the demonstration.
Liz Nelson from the Belfast Feminist Network, which is organising the latest protest outside Ulster’s ground, said: “This rally is not about the verdict or even what happens to these players. It is about getting sporting organisations like Ulster Rugby to be accountable and to act on the issues of sexism and misogyny. What this trial highlighted was the extent of sexist and misogynistic attitudes in sport including rugby. One of the protest’s organisers from the Belfast Feminist Network, Kellie Turtle said it was designed to put pressure on the Ulster and Irish rugby authorities to tackle what she said was “the ongoing culture of sexism and misogyny” around the sport.
“When we are at the stadium tonight in large numbers I hope there are respectful conversations with the Ulster fans. And I hope that sporting bodies like Ulster Rugby will take on board what needs to be done now to counteract misogyny and sexism. This is a positive protest aimed at changing attitudes.” Turtle said that ahead of their protest the organisers had been contacted by a large number of female rugby players who said they were too afraid to speak out.
Reporting restrictions on the case were lifted this week. It can now be revealed that Harrison sent a pornographic video to Olding’s mobile phone the morning after the party at Jackson’s house showing three unknown people – two men and a woman – engaged in a sex act. The trial judge, Patricia Smyth, had ruled this evidence could not be heard by the 11-member jury. “They said they feared being sidelined by their clubs if they speak publicly over their concerns regarding sexism and misogynistic attitudes in rugby. That has got to change! Ulster rugby has to start an education programme teaching players from their elite players downwards that the kind of attitudes to women we heard about during that trial are stamped out,” she said.
The trial focused on the events in June 2016 at a party in Jackson’s south Belfast home in which a 21-year-old woman alleged she had been raped and sexually assaulted.
A day after the men were all found not guilty last month, up to 1,000 people demonstrated outside Belfast’s Laganside courts criticising the trial but also demanding that Jackson and Olding no longer play for province or country.
For the Belfast Feminist Network this week the lifting of some remaining reporting restrictions from the nine-week long trial revealed the prevalence of sexist behaviour and attitudes in sports like rugby.
It can now be revealed that Harrison sent a pornographic video to Olding’s mobile phone the morning after the party at Jackson’s house showing three unknown people – two men and a woman – engaged in a sex act. The trial judge, Patricia Smyth, had ruled this evidence could not be heard by the 11-member jury.
The latest revelation has compounded the anger of many Irish women over the attitudes of the players and their friends.The latest revelation has compounded the anger of many Irish women over the attitudes of the players and their friends.
Nelson said the issues raised by the case had to result in a “stamping out of misogyny” in sport. “There has to be greater education over what sexual consent means and that is not just for Ulster Rugby and other sports but also in the schools here. This is about changing attitudes in general society towards women,” she added.
Arguments over whether Jackson and Olding can resume their top-level rugby careers have been played out in two full-page advertisements in the Belfast Telegraph. The newspaper is a sponsor for the Ulster team.Arguments over whether Jackson and Olding can resume their top-level rugby careers have been played out in two full-page advertisements in the Belfast Telegraph. The newspaper is a sponsor for the Ulster team.
Jackson and Olding’s supporters paid £2,000 this week for an ad in which they demanded that “these innocent men are reinstated and rightly allowed to resume their roles for both club and country”.Jackson and Olding’s supporters paid £2,000 this week for an ad in which they demanded that “these innocent men are reinstated and rightly allowed to resume their roles for both club and country”.
The advertisement was in response to a previous ad last week organised by a rugby fan, Anna Nolan. In a direct appeal to Irish and Ulster rugby’s high command, her ad said the players’ behaviour “falls far beneath the standards that your organisations represent and as such we demand that neither of these men represents Ulster or Ireland now or at any point in the future”.The advertisement was in response to a previous ad last week organised by a rugby fan, Anna Nolan. In a direct appeal to Irish and Ulster rugby’s high command, her ad said the players’ behaviour “falls far beneath the standards that your organisations represent and as such we demand that neither of these men represents Ulster or Ireland now or at any point in the future”.
Ulster fan Mark Neale, a season ticketholder for 20 years, said the trial verdict “has to be respected” and that Jackson and Olding deserved a “fair and proportionate” hearing to establish whether they should be reinstated. Most Ulster fans attending Friday’s match either ignored the protest or stopped to take pictures of the demonstration with their mobile phones. One man, in his 60s, who was unprepared to give his name on his way into the stadium said: “I’d rather talk about how this team of mine is underperforming.”
While defending the Belfast Feminist Network’s right to protest outside the ground, Neale said it was “misguided” and could get in the way of a fair hearing for the two players as Ulster and the Irish Rugby Football Union consider their future. Ahead of the game Ulster fan, Mark Neale, a season ticketholder for 20 years, said the trial verdict “has to be respected” and that Jackson and Olding deserved a “fair and proportionate” hearing to establish whether they should be reinstated.
Neale who attended the match with his family said pressure on businesses to pull out of sponsorship deals for Ulster was “unnecessary and unfair.”
One of Ulster’s main sponsors, the Bank of Ireland, confirmed this week it expressed concerns to the club’s chief executive “regarding the serious behaviour and conduct issues” that emerged during the high-profile trial.One of Ulster’s main sponsors, the Bank of Ireland, confirmed this week it expressed concerns to the club’s chief executive “regarding the serious behaviour and conduct issues” that emerged during the high-profile trial.
One of the byproducts of the trial has been a recognition for the need to re-establish rape counselling services, particularly in Northern Ireland. It is seven years since the Belfast Rape Crisis Centre closed, which had counselled victims of sexual violence for more than three decades. As the game inside the stadium began a familiar chant went up from the home supporters to the tune of The Village People’s 1970s hit Go West. The fans sang in unison: “Stand Up For The Ulstermen.”
Tina Calder, whose mother Eileen co-founded the centre, said a new organisation had been set up after the trial. The Rape Crisis Action Group said it had been offered support by 16 volunteers, some with several years’ experience helping victims of sexual violence. Across the road on the grass island between the trees the demonstrators held up banners stating: “Stand Up For The Ulsterwomen.”
“During the trial it became clear that we needed to resurrect the old Rape Crisis Centre and its services,” Calder said.
“We hope to train a new generation of counsellors over the coming six to nine months and set up our telephone helpline service before expanding to a full range of services.
“Something practical is being created over the outrage and anger that came out of this case.”
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Ulster RugbyUlster Rugby
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