There has been a strong reaction online to the news that Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding have been found not guilty of rape.
The verdict came today after jurors deliberated for three hours and 45 minutes.
Jackson and Olding were cleared on all counts while Blane McIlory was found not guilty of exposure and Rory Harrison found not guilty of perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
Since the news broke – and in spite of the clear verdict and subsequent statements from the mens’ legal teams – many have shown their support for the accuser on social media.
Those supporters include charities who work with victims of sexual crimes and Labour Party Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin who said that he, “and thousands of others, believe her.”
At the time of writing, the hashtag #IBelieveHer was the number one trending topic in Ireland.
The damage this trial has done to any woman who has been sexually assaulted or will be sexually assaulted cannot be quantified. What woman would put herself through that by reporting a crime.
Disgusted but sadly not surprised by the verdict.#Ibelieveher— Claire Allan / Freya Kennedy (@ClaireAllan) March 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/TaraFlynn/status/978964343864905728
This is how we treat women on this island. Rape is basically legal. If you report sexual assault, you will be punished. And if you get pregnant as a result of rape, you will be forced to carry that child to term. But yeah, sure, we love both #repealthe8th #Ibelieveher
— Peter McGuire (@PeterMcGuireIE) March 28, 2018
Paddy Jackson acquitted, Stuart Olding found not guilty. Power, money and privilege wins the day as usual. A shameful trial. #ibelieveher #metoo
— Buzz O'Neill-Maxwell (@buzzoneill) March 28, 2018
I feel sick to my stomach. I can't get those WhatsApp messages out of my head. She was so brave and took so much shit and got nothing. So much damage has been done that cannot be taken back. #IBelieveHer
— Ronzo (@ronronzo) March 28, 2018
Why would ANY victim of a sexual crime report? WHY? There is so little chance of justice where rape or sexual assault is involved. My heart goes out to that woman. Abused, degraded, exposed, vilified and now discredited by a shitty misogynistic legal system. #IBelieveHer
— Taryn de Vere 🇵🇸 (@TarynDeVere) March 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/SugarMoonPaula/status/978961954814513158
Please support rape victims and rape charities at this time if you can, understand THIS is why rape isn’t reported don’t pressure people to report, bc the chances of justice being served are slim, heart goes out to that woman and anyone else this affects #IBelieveHer
— georgie (@georgieIockhart) March 28, 2018
The #IBelieveHer hashtag gives an insight into how deeply upsetting this court case was for so many people. If nothing else, it must surely lead to a change in how rape trials are conducted. Is there any other crime in which the alleged victim appears to be the one on trial?
— Sarah McInerney (@SarahAMcInerney) March 28, 2018
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the details of this story, you can contact:
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: 1800 77 8888
Women’s Aid: 1800 341 900
Samaritans: 116 123/Text: 087 2609090/email: [email protected]
Pieta House: 1800 247 247
