Northern Ireland

Rugby rape trial led to surge in donations for Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Belfast Feminist Network activists hold a protest outside Ulster Rugby's Kingspan Stadium in east Belfast last year. File picture by Liam McBurney, Press Association
Belfast Feminist Network activists hold a protest outside Ulster Rugby's Kingspan Stadium in east Belfast last year. File picture by Liam McBurney, Press Association Belfast Feminist Network activists hold a protest outside Ulster Rugby's Kingspan Stadium in east Belfast last year. File picture by Liam McBurney, Press Association

PUBLIC donations to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre surged in the months after last year's Ulster rugby rape trial, the charity said.

The charity's annual report showed it received an additional €70,000 following the high-profile case.

Chief executive Noeline Blackwell said last year's income was higher than 2017 - much of which came from text and online donations in the wake of the trial.

Former Ireland and Ulster players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were acquitted of raping a woman at a party after a high-profile trial in Belfast last year.

Two other men - Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison - were also unanimously acquitted of lesser charges connected to the alleged incident at Jackson's house in June 2016.

After the jury unanimously found them not guilty, Jackson and Olding were sacked by club and country for involvement in explicit WhatsApp chats which were revealed during the marathon trial.

Ms Blackwell said the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) had received donations "made anonymously through the DRCC website – and also via text – in the 90 days following the outcome of the Belfast rape trial of four young men, including two Ireland and Ulster rugby players".

"People told us of their upset about the cruelty of the court system and inappropriate social media messages," she wrote.

"In deference to the intention of members of the public who made these donations, the funds have been ring-fenced in order to increase our capacity to support those who need it when they are attending court and Garda stations."