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Rugby rape case: Woman breaks down as she gives evidence

Paddy Jackson (left) and Stuart Olding at Belfast Crown Court. Both deny the charges against them
Paddy Jackson (left) and Stuart Olding at Belfast Crown Court. Both deny the charges against them Paddy Jackson (left) and Stuart Olding at Belfast Crown Court. Both deny the charges against them

A STUDENT who claims she was sexually assaulted by Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding wept in court yesterday while giving evidence in the case.

The 21-year old, who cannot be named to protect her identity, told a jury at Belfast Crown Court that she told Jackson "I don't want this to happen", but "he kept going."

The woman alleges she was raped by Jackson (26) in the bedroom of his Oakleigh Park home in the city after a night out in Belfast, and that during the sex attack she "froze."

Breaking down on several occasions as she gave evidence from behind a curtain, the woman said that when Jackson's teammate Stuart Olding (24) entered the bedroom "my heart sank ... I knew what was going to happen."

She said she was raped at the same time by both men, and when a third man, 26-year old Blane McIlroy, entered the bedroom naked, she knew at "that point that my fight instinct kicked in."

All three men are standing trial, alongside a fourth defendant Rory Harrison (25), on charges arising from the alleged incident in the early hours of June 28, 2016.

The jury of nine men and three women heard how the woman had been with friends in Ollie's nightclub and had gone back to Jackson's house.

She said she didn't follow rugby, had never been to an Ulster rugby match and had only met Jackson once, briefly in a social setting.

The woman - who drank one and a half large glasses of wine in her friend's house before going out, followed by three double vodkas in the club - believed she was going to an after-party in Jackson's.

Telling the jury she soon realised it was "by no means a party", she said those present were Jackson, Olding, McIlroy, Harrison and three girls who were friends of a friend.

When she was asked if anything had initially occurred between herself and Jackson, she said: "Yes, we kissed. It was completely consensual but it was instigated by Patrick Jackson.

"He tried to undo my trousers, but I told him firmly I wasn't interested and went back down the stairs."

When asked by Crown barrister Toby Hedworth QC if at that point Jackson "tried to take matters further", she replied "no."

The woman said she soon felt "the mood has shifted" in the house, she believed it was "abundantly clear no-one else was coming back to the house, there wasn't going to be a party, so I decided to leave."

He followed her upstairs when she went up to retrieve her clutch bag, and he attacked her, the court heard.

Describing the start of the alleged attack, she said: "In that moment, you think you are going to kick and scream and fight.

"But it doesn't work that way. Look, you just freeze. I knew where this was going but it just happened so quickly."

The woman said Olding then came into the bedroom.

She said: "My heart sank. I knew what was going to happen.

"I looked Patrick Jackson straight in the eye and said 'please no, not him as well.'

Saying she "couldn't stop" what was happening to her, the woman broke down again as she recalled a "completely naked" McIlroy walking into the room.

She managed to get off the bed, telling the court and jury: "It was at that point that my fight instinct kicked in. There was not a chance I was letting that happen again."

Describing McIlroy's stance as "so aggressive", the woman claimed that as she was leaving the bedroom, she said: "How many times does it take for a girl to say no, for it to sink in."

She added: "I ran down the stairs and out of the house."

The woman said Rory Harrison then came to her aid, and offered to take her home in a taxi.

Saying she was a "complete mess" and at this point was bleeding, the woman said Harrison comforted her and got her home.

When asked if she reported the matter to police immediately, the woman said she didn't, as she felt she wouldn't be believed.

And when asked what made her change her mind, she replied: "Because the more I thought about it .. rape is a game of power and control.

"They rely on your silence, and you take the power back over the situation when you actually do something about it."

"Going to the police meant I was doing something about it, I was preventing it happening to someone else.

"It could easily have been any one of my friends standing outside Olly's. It could easily have been my sister outside Ollie's."

She said going to the police was "the best decision I made."

She added: "No-one should have to go through what I went through. People can't just think they can get on like that and it's okay, nothing is going to happen. I am not going to stand for it."

Jackson from Oakleigh Park, and Olding, from Ardenlee Street, have both been charged with rape, while Jackson faces a further charge of sexual assault.

Blane McIlroy, from Royal Lodge Road in Belfast, has been charged with exposing his genitals, and Rory Harrison from Manse Road, is facing charges of perverting the course of justice, and withholding information.

All four men have denied the charges.

Ireland and Ulster captain Rory Best attended yesterday's hearing, as did fellow Lions, Ireland and Ulster star Iain Henderson.

Ireland and Ulster winger Craig Gilroy was also present, as was Ulster prop Kyle McCall.

The case continues.