Northern Ireland

Rugby rape trial: Blane McIlroy denies his version of events is 'preposterous'

Blane McIlroy has taken the stand in his own defence 
Blane McIlroy has taken the stand in his own defence  Blane McIlroy has taken the stand in his own defence 

Ulster rugby player Blane McIlroy has denied that his version of what happened with the alleged victim in a rape trial was "preposterous".

Prosecution lawyer Toby Hedworth QC put to him: "Do you have any idea how preposterous your account of all this is?"

McIlroy replied: "I went to the police and told them the truth."

Mr Hedworth accused the 26-year-old of making up "false stories", adding: "Has the penny not dropped? Even your own friends are suggesting you have the story wrong."

McIlroy replied: "No, I've told the truth from the word go."

McIlroy has denied forcing himself on a woman who claimed she was raped by Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding at Jackson's Belfast home in 2016.

The prosecution said that McIlroy was charged with exposure and not rape and that had the alleged victim wanted to cause him harm she would have claimed he made her perform a sex act on him.

"If she wanted to cause you harm and had been involved in sexual activity with you she would simply have to say she was made to do things sexually," said Mr Hedworth.

He added: "She says you emerged in the door holding your penis wanting your slice of the action."

McIlroy said: "That never happened."

This morning McIlroy told Belfast Crown Court that the woman had smiled at him when he walked in on her and Jackson in bed together.

McIlroy, of Royal Lodge Road, Belfast, who is charged with one count of exposure, was giving evidence in his own defence at the high-profile trial on Friday morning before being cross examined by the prosecution.

He is on trial alongside Jackson and Olding who are both charged with raping the same woman following a night out on June 28 2016.

He told the court that during a party in Jackson's house he went upstairs and found his friend in bed with the alleged victim.

"I went up and opened the door of Mr Jackson's room. I was fully clothed.

"I saw Paddy and (the woman) lying on the bed naked. I said 'Oh sorry' and then I went in," McIlroy told the court.

He added: "I said 'What have you two been up to tonight?' and she smiled.

"I sat down on the bed beside (her). She turned towards me and me and her were talking and we started kissing."

Paddy Jackson is accused of rape and sexual assault 
Paddy Jackson is accused of rape and sexual assault  Paddy Jackson is accused of rape and sexual assault 

He was asked by his defence barrister Arthur Harvey QC if there had been any reluctance on the woman's part.

He replied: "No".

When asked if the kissing was mutual he replied "yes."

Mr Harvey then asked him: "Did you force yourself on her?"

He replied: "Not at all."

When asked if the woman had said "no" or "stop" McIlroy replied: "Never. No."

He told the court that the woman then put her hand down the waistband of his boxer shorts and performed a sex act on him.

Rory Harrison is accused of perverting the course of justice 
Rory Harrison is accused of perverting the course of justice  Rory Harrison is accused of perverting the course of justice 

McIlroy said he then left the room to find a condom and when he came back the woman was at the foot of bed getting dressed and Jackson was lying in the bed.

"I said I couldn't find a condom. She said 'it's fine. It's late.' She said 'I don't usually have one night stands'," McIlroy said.

He claimed that the woman continued to get dressed and then she went downstairs and left in a taxi with co-accused Rory Harrison.

McIlroy said the alleged victim was not upset when she left the house.

When asked what his reaction had been when he found out Jackson and Olding had been arrested, he said: "I was shocked. I knew they had been out the night before. I just wanted to make sure they had a solicitor or someone to advise them. I was just in shock."

McIlroy denied the charge against him.

Jackson (26) from Oakleigh Park in Belfast, and Olding (24) from Ardenlee Street in the city, deny raping the woman.

Another man, Rory Harrison (25) of Manse Road, Belfast, is charged with perverting the course of justice and withholding information. He denies the charge.