Stuart Olding’s solicitor said there were no winners in the Belfast rape trial and the process took a toll on both sides. Paul Dougan also claimed everyone on social media “saw themselves as a reporter and social commentator” during the case. Rugby players Olding - Mr Dougan’s client - and Paddy Jackson were acquitted on Wednesday of raping a 19-year-old Belfast student. “Everybody on social media in this particular case saw themselves both as a reporter and as a social commentator,” Mr Dougan said. He said felt the public profile of Olding and Jackson as rugby players had been a feature of the case.

Source: The Irish Times March 29, 2018 10:30 UTC