Northern Ireland

One rape charge against rugby star Stuart Olding dropped

Stuart Olding leaves Belfast Crown Court after a judge was told the Crown did not intend to proceed with one of the two rape charges he faces
Stuart Olding leaves Belfast Crown Court after a judge was told the Crown did not intend to proceed with one of the two rape charges he faces Stuart Olding leaves Belfast Crown Court after a judge was told the Crown did not intend to proceed with one of the two rape charges he faces

ONE of two rape charges levelled against Irish rugby international Stuart Olding was dropped today after it emerged "no evidence" is being offered by the Crown.

On the direction of Judge Patricia Smyth, a statement was issued at Belfast Crown Court following an agreement by both the Crown and Olding's legal team.

It said the decision was "as a result of additional forensic evidence now available".

The 24-year old, from Ardenlee Street in Belfast, had been charged with two counts of rape - which he consistently denied.

Olding will now be acquitted of one of the two charges.

The agreed statement said: "The prosecution have today confirmed that they will no longer be proceeding with the charge of vaginal rape against Stuart Olding. No evidence will now be offered by the prosecution in respect of this charge, and Mr Olding will be acquitted of this count of rape.

"The prosecution acknowledges that Mr Olding always denied the offence of vaginal rape and challenged the adequacy of the evidence against him in respect of this charge at two hearings during 2017, which the prosecution successfully opposed on the basis of the forensic evidence that the posecution obtained at that time.

"The prosecution is not proceeding with this count as a result of additional forensic evidence now available.

"Had that evidence been available at an earlier stage, the vaginal rape charge would not have been brought against Mr Olding at any time.

"The prosecution is proceeding with the remaining count of oral rape against Mr Olding."

Olding is due to stand trial at the end of January alongside Ireland and Ulster team-mate Paddy Jackson (25), of Oakleigh Park in Belfast, and two other co-accused.

Jackson denies raping the same complainant and sexually assaulting her at a house in Belfast on June 28 last year.

Two other men are also facing charges arising from the same alleged incident.

Blane McIlroy (25), from Royal Lodge Road in Belfast, denies exposing his genitals on June 28 last year 'intending that someone would see them and be caused alarm or distress'.

Rory Harrison, who is also 25 and from Manse Road in the city, also denies charges of perverting the course of justice on dates between June 27 and July 1 and withholding information on dates between June 27 and October 5 2016.

The trial is scheduled to commence at Belfast Crown Court on January 22 2018.