What happened in that bedroom that night in Belfast has become a litmus test for examining changes in the sexual relations between men and women. During the trial, daily radio reports were prefaced by warnings that the material was unsuitable for children or those with “sensitive ears”. Regardless of the verdict, the men and the woman were always going to be tried in the court of public opinion. This is the main reason why the Belfast rape trial has become a story that will be told and retold for years to come. But for good Ulster Protestant society they were the exceptions.

Source: The Irish Times March 28, 2018 23:42 UTC