A woman who claims she was raped by two Ireland rugby players is due to give evidence tomorrow after their trial opened today.
Paddy Jackson and his Ulster teammate Stuart Olding are accused of raping her at Mr. Jackson’s home in south Belfast in June 2016.
On June 27th 2016, Prosecuting barrister Toby Hedworth said the young woman went to a nightclub in Belfast city where a few Ulster Rugby players were socialising with some Northern Ireland footballers.
Afterwards, he said she went back to Paddy Jackson’s home with three other girls she knew through a mutual friend.
At some point, she claims she went upstairs to Mr. Jackson’s where she told him she didn't want to go any further than some kissing.
After returning to the room to collect her bag some time afterwards, she claims Mr. Jackson raped her before his Ireland and Ulster teammate Stuart Olding joined in against her will.
Another man Blane McIlroy from Royal Lodge Road in Belfast is accused of walking in and exposing himself to her, while a fourth man, Rory Harrison from Manse Road in Belfast, is accused of trying to cover up what happened.
All four men deny the charges and the trial is due to hear from the woman tomorrow morning.
The jury have been told they will be shown a series of WhatsApp messages, which the prosecution believe give a true flavour of the attitude of the defendants.
At 11.17am Mr. Olding texts: “we are all top shaggers” and adds “there was a bit of spit roasting going on last night fellas.” Jackson is alleged to have immediately replied with the text “there was a lot of spit” to which Olding is accused of replying “it was like a merry-go-round at a carnival”.
Following his arrest two days later, Paddy Jackson provided a prepared statement in which he stated “I strenuously deny these allegations. I am shocked and horrified they have been made against me”.
Subsequently he claimed they kissed and lay on his bed that night and she undid his trousers and performed oral sex on him, but he said they didn't have vaginal sex because he didn’t have a condom.
