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28th Mar 2018

#IBelieveHer – there has been a strong reaction to the Belfast rugby trial verdict

A powerful movement.

Jade Hayden

istillbelieveher

There has been a strong reaction online to the news that Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding have been found not guilty of rape.

The verdict came today after jurors deliberated for three hours and 45 minutes.

Jackson and Olding were cleared on all counts while Blane McIlory was found not guilty of exposure and Rory Harrison found not guilty of perverting the course of justice and withholding information.

Since the news broke – and in spite of the clear verdict and subsequent statements from the mens’ legal teams – many have shown their support for the accuser on social media.

Those supporters include charities who work with victims of sexual crimes and Labour Party Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin who said that he, “and thousands of others, believe her.”

At the time of writing, the hashtag #IBelieveHer was the number one trending topic in Ireland.

If you or anyone you know has been affected by the details of this story, you can contact:

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: 1800 77 8888
Women’s Aid: 1800 341 900
Samaritans: 116 123/Text: 087 2609090/email: [email protected]
Pieta House: 1800 247 247