There were many sordid and demoralising moments during what has become known as “the Belfast rugby rape trial”. He was clearly the alpha male among the defendants, Stuart Olding the only one who came close in stature. Both Jackson and Olding had played for Ireland so this was as true of the Republic as the North. It does mean that these four men have been found by a jury to be innocent of the charges they faced. Horrific sexismHowever, we have every right to comment on the horrific, domineering sexism of their attitudes towards women.

Source: The Irish Times March 29, 2018 19:30 UTC