In the dock were Ireland rugby internationals Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, accused of the rape of a 19-year-old Belfast student. Also on trial were their friends Blane McIllroy, accused of exposing his genitals, and Rory Harrison, accused of perverting the course of justice and withholding information. Listen to the PodcastOn today’s podcast, Kathy Sheridan speaks to Gallagher who was in court throughout the trial which concluded on Wednesday when the jury delivered unanimous not guilty verdicts for each of the four defendants. Noeline Blackwell, chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, discusses the differences between rape trials in Northern Ireland and the Republic, how the process can be improved to protect complainants and the impact that the Belfast trial could have on rape victims. Subscribe to the twice weekly Women’s Podcast: on iTunes, Android and Soundcloud

Source: The Irish Times March 29, 2018 17:14 UTC