Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘JUST A SILLY GIRL WHO REGRETTED IT’
Court is told of text messages claim from accused Ulster player
THE alleged Ulster Rugby rape victim was called a “silly girl who done something and then regretted it”, a court heard yesterday.
The claim was made in messages sent by Rory Harrison to Blane Mcilroy after learning of the allegations against his friends Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.
In one, he said she was “making life difficult for the lads”.
AN exchange of texts between rugby players and friends were revealed to a rape trial jury yesterday.
Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Blane Mcilroy and Rory Harrison, from Belfast, face five charges connected to the alleged attack in Belfast in 2016.
When he heard the Ulster and Ireland players Jackson and Olding were being questioned, Mcilroy told Harrison: “This is ridiculous. Surely this is all going to get dropped.”
The complainant, now 21, told a friend in a message she had been raped and when asked if she had tried to stop it happening, she replied: “Of course I did but they were too strong.”
She wrote: “Paddy Jackson and some blond guy and then a third tried to get involved. Honestly. No. I was bleeding and they wouldn’t stop.”
When asked if she would go to police, she replied: “No it would be my word against theirs. Ulster Rugby will vouch for their good character and I’ll look like a stupid little girl”.
The court was told Harrison sent Olding a video clip by Whatsapp. It was not played to the jury.
Belfast Crown Court heard 36 agreed facts presented to the jury by prosecutor Rosemary Walsh.
Barrister Toby Hedworth followed her by reading a series of messages to the court, many of which had not been revealed before.
One message between Mcilory and Harrison following the arrest of Jackson and Olding alleged “the cops went straight to [ex-ulster Rugby director of rugby] Les Kiss which is f***ing ridiculous”.
Harrison replied: “Could be a law suit in that if it’s dismissed.” He told his pal: “When Les rang Jacko, Bryn rang Stu – go to the station.”
The court heard Harrison continued to explain to Mcilroy he understood allegations had been made against Jackson and Olding but he was unclear over the content.
He messaged Mcilroy about the police and said “they came to my house”, adding the complainant was “making life very difficult for the lads”.
He ended the conversation with the word “disaster”.
The court also heard Jackson received a text from Ulster Rugby that stated: “Paddy phone your solicitor and give them a heads up.”
He responded: “I don’t have a solicitor, who should I contact?”
The court heard later Mcilroy sent Harrison a Whatsapp message, asking: “Do paddy and Stu have a lawyer. Do his parents know.”
Harrison, who denies perverting the course of justice and withholding information, responded: “I’ve no idea. If not my dad will now exactly who to go to.”
Mcilroy replied: “yeah sweet. This is ridiculous. Surely this is all going to get dropped.”
Harrison said: “Hopefully. I don’t know.. if it does come to it. hopefully just thrown out – just a silly girl who done something and then regretted it.”
The rugby players were arrested on June 30 – two days after the then 19-year-old woman claimed she was raped by Jackson, 26, while being forced to perform oral sex on his team-mate Olding, 24.
Both men have denied rape and claim any sexual activity in Jackson’s bedroom was consensual.
In messages between Harrison, 25 and Mcilroy on June 30 they discussed the arrests of Jackson and Olding, with Mcilory asking Harrison if he knew the complainant’s name.
Harrison told Mcilroy, from Royal Lodge Road and who denies exposure, her name and said “hopefully it will be thrown out”. Later that day after police contacted Mcilory, 26, he messaged Harrison to inform him he had to attend Musgrave Street station. Harrison replied: “I’d say leave your phone.” Harrison assured Mcilroy he would contact his father to get information about legal advice if necessary. Harrison told Mcilroy his dad had not said much about the situation but added he said: “Could get thrown out. Said very significant because yer one followed Jacko up the stairs.” Harrison said he had explained the men had been drinking on the night in question.
Other messages between the charged men and friends were collated by the PSNI after claims of rape were made against Jackson, from Oakleigh Park who also denies a sex assault charge, and Olding, from Ardenlee Street.
They are alleged to show before the arrests the men discussed the night in question and shared their view of the women at the party.
A JACOME Whatsapp group member, referred to as AA, wrote: “Did you pass spit-roast brasses? Mcilroy said: “legends.”
AA replied: “why are we all such legends?”
Mcilory replied: “it’s ridiculous.” Mcilroy told a member of the group “pumped a bird with Jackson on Monday – roasted her.”
A post from a member referred to as CG asked Olding: “how was she?” He replied: “she was very loose” CG: “Any pictures or stories Simon. Where you all end up.” Olding: “cutters, Ollie’ and back.” CG: “any sluts gets f***ed?”
Olding: “precious secrets.”
AA: “i said tonight is your lucky night”
Olding: “we are all top shaggers” Olding: “there was a bit of spit roasting last night fellas”
Jackson: “there was a lot of spit roasting last night”
A deleted Whatsapp showed Mcilroy wrote to Harrison: “what the fuck was going on last night. It was hilarious.”
JE: “who? are they brasses?” Mcilroy: “aye”
JE: “f***ing fantastic”
Mcilroy wrote in a Whatsapp group called The Juicers, “Love Belfast sluts” along with a photo of himself sitting on a sofa in Jackson’s house with three women who attended the party on the night in question.
The trial continues.
This is ridiculous. Surely this is all going to get dropped
BLANE MCILROY IN TEXT MESSAGE