Opinion

A very different tone from Paddy Jackson as fallout from trial continues

A very different statement was issued by Paddy Jackson yesterday, than the one read out in Belfast after the not guilty verdict. Picture By Hugh Russell.
A very different statement was issued by Paddy Jackson yesterday, than the one read out in Belfast after the not guilty verdict. Picture By Hugh Russell. A very different statement was issued by Paddy Jackson yesterday, than the one read out in Belfast after the not guilty verdict. Picture By Hugh Russell.

It took nine days for Paddy Jackson and his advisers to finally read the public mood correctly.

I've been a journalist for long enough to recognise a professionally crafted press release when I see one.

And there certainly seems to have been some public relations expertise brought to bear in an attempt to try and claw back the reputation of the one time golden boy of Ulster Rugby.

In admitting that the complainant in the case left a party at his house in 2016 "in a distressed state" Jackson did a u-turn on a previous statement read by his defence team on the day of the verdict.

Then we witnessed a very different Jackson than the one portrayed in yesterday's much more apologetic statement.

While relief at a not guilty verdict at the end of a nine week trial is understandable, it was team mate Stuart Olding who had a better grasp on the public mood as he stood silently as his defence lawyer read a short, contrite statement.

Compare that to the statement by Jackson's lawyers, who criticised the PPS, police and complainant along with a later threat to issue legal proceedings against anyone who said they believed the young woman and legal oil was poured on the fire with #SueMePaddy going viral.

The rape verdict was no longer in question but the behaviour of the players and their friends and the language used in the now well documented WhatsApp messages remained very much a topic of conversation.

When Jackson in his latest statement said; "I will always regret the events of that evening" I'm minded to believe him, because at this stage the events of that evening are now impacting on his high flying sports career, a career that afforded him the opportunity to live a hedonistic lifestyle.

The trial has raised questions about the issue of consent and what can be done to educate young men and women in the future.

It has also done, arguably irreparable damage, to the reputation of not just Ulster and Irish rugby but the sport in general and the culture of hard partying and misogyny among the younger players.

Whether Jackson or Olding can revive their rugby playing careers remains to be seen.

Those who voiced opinion online, often in contempt of court during the trial, will continue to debate the case regardless and as we know the internet is almost impossible to police.

However, whether the public, the media or the rugby fraternity forgive and forget their behaviour is a mute point, for the only person who can truly accept their apology has yet to make any comment bar what was said in the witness box of Crown Court 12.