Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Belfast rape trial - all 4 found not guilty Mod Note post one

Options
13567…316

Comments

  • Options
    #62
    jr86
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,930 ✭✭✭jr86


    It brought out some amount of unhinged nutjobs on Twitter that's for sure, who haven't an absolute breeze about how the court process works. You'd really weep for humanity

    All the best to the lads in the rest of their careers


  • Options
    #63
    bogwalrus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,454 ✭✭✭bogwalrus


    Anne1982h wrote: »
    I believe her solely because I have no idea why you would put yourself through that incredibly public and humiliating trial if nothing bad actually happened at all. It doesn’t make sense.

    Possibly because she didn't know what she was getting herself into. I imagine her family and peers might have influenced her to take action also.


  • Options
    #64
    BoJack Horseman
    Registered Users Posts: 12,248 ✭✭✭✭BoJack Horseman


    Hopefully they will peruse a civil suit against the accuser for damages.


  • Options
    #65
    padd b1975
    Registered Users Posts: 10,703 ✭✭✭✭padd b1975


    James Bond Junior wrote: »
    I'd love to say you're right but I doubt it. Maybe I am being cynical, maybe you're being naive but I don't think they will play international rugby again.

    They're not exactly sponsor friendly I'll admit, but if they're good enough they'll definitely play.

    Rugby is a serious professional business these days and we're not exactly over supplied with international class players.


  • Options
    #66
    tinpib
    Registered Users Posts: 4,476 ✭✭✭tinpib


    spurious wrote: »
    Well there you go. Two hours not long to discuss I would have thought.

    Roundabout 3.5/4 hours in total. 2 hours yesterday according to reports.

    They started deliberating at 10:20am today and news broke at around 12:35pm, so maybe 90 mins or a bit more today.

    Still though 3.5/4 hours still seemed quite short to me. Thought it would go on longer.

    However based on that length of time it must have been quite clear to the jury that it was going to be an acquittal.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #67
    _Dara_
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,971 ✭✭✭_Dara_


    py2006 wrote: »
    A hell of a lot more than just sometimes these days. They now use it instead of the word sexist and use it ANY time a man disagrees or criticises feminism.

    In this case, it’s an accurate use of the word. What’s your problem with that?

    It’s kinda pathetic that you are using THIS for points-scoring.


  • Options
    #68
    eviltwin
    Registered Users Posts: 17,495 ✭✭✭✭eviltwin


    I don't think she's a liar. I believe she felt what happened was a rape, assault.

    That doesn't mean they raped her though. It's entirely possible they believed she was completely up for it.

    Having sex with strangers when you are under the influence of alcohol is a risky thing to do.


  • Options
    #69
    Ursus Horribilis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,168 ✭✭✭Ursus Horribilis


    I'm not surprised. There was so much muddying of the waters here, it was hard to know who to believe. I honestly don't know if justice has been served but it was always going to be a big ask to have a unanimous verdict. It has probably been an eye opener for some people into how rugby players behave though. Something tells me this wasn't their first time round the block when it came to having young ladies vie for their attention.


  • Options
    #70
    The Talking Bread
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,050 ✭✭✭✭The Talking Bread


    cavemeister wrote: »
    Anne1982h wrote: »
    I believe her solely because I have no idea why you would put yourself through that incredibly public and humiliating trial if nothing bad actually happened at all. It doesn’t make sense.

    But she had total anonymity in court. She was hidden behind a curtain the whole time. If she was lying (and unfortunately, the jury believed she was) she will never be named or identified publicly. Paddy and Stuart have been found to be not guilty and now have their names associated with rape for the rest of their lives.

    Her anonymity was gone months ago and she would have been informed by her legal team of this inevitability


  • Options
    #71
    Akrasia
    Registered Users Posts: 22,236 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    Are you serious?

    Every lads group on Watsapp has the exact same BS in it....

    No it doesn't. And don't be smearing me with your attitudes towards women.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #72
    eurokev
    Registered Users Posts: 964 ✭✭✭eurokev


    There's a distinct difference imo, of being innocent and of getting away with something.
    They got away with this here imo


  • Options
    #73
    facehugger99
    Registered Users Posts: 7,225 ✭✭✭facehugger99


    Not enough evidence to find them guilty, but I suspect what went on that night was far beyond the bounds of chivalrous behavior. These lads reputations have been rightly ruined and careers ended I suspect.

    Given the victim was a young woman, I suspect the internet's finest will form a Twitter hate mob.

    God help her.


  • Options
    #74
    endacl
    Registered Users Posts: 22,233 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Louise O'Neill's gonna explode...


  • Options
    #75
    AudreyHepburn
    Registered Users Posts: 5,673 ✭✭✭AudreyHepburn


    Inmyownworld wrote: »
    Not guilty doesn't equate to innocent.

    Just like them being found not guilty doesn't equate to her making it up.

    Not surprised with the verdict but I am surprised how quickly they reached it.

    Every one of their lives changed after that, hers and theirs.

    Do you honestly think they are the only group of young men who have talked about the women they have been with that way?

    Do you think that young women don’t talk about their conquests in similar ways?

    I know I and my friends did when we were in our late teens and early twenties.


  • Options
    #76
    .......
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,057 ✭✭✭.......


    This post has been deleted.


  • Options
    #77
    py2006
    Registered Users Posts: 9,847 ✭✭✭py2006


    _Dara_ wrote: »
    In this case, it’s an accurate use of the word. What’s your problem with that?

    It’s kinda pathetic that you are using THIS for points-scoring.

    Explain? You are saying they hate women? :confused:


  • Options
    #78
    Edward M
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,837 ✭✭✭Edward M


    If there was any doubt, a jury had to find not guilty.
    This was a difficult case, one woman against four, with no support of any sort from any other witness.
    From what I have read, I couldn't say I could definitely be sure they were guilty of what they were charged with.
    A horrible case, but ultimately I think the right verdict based on the evidence.


  • Options
    #79
    Bob Harris
    Registered Users Posts: 3,462 ✭✭✭Bob Harris


    You knew the verdict before the case even started. Complete waste of time.


  • Options
    #80
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    murpho999 wrote: »
    Of course not guilty means innocent.

    They are innocent until proven guilty.

    Are you bitter at the result?

    Not guilty just means that there wasn't enough evidence to convict them. Even the slightest bit of doubt and the jury have to find them not guilty. Doesn't mean they didn't do it, the only people who know that for certain are the people involved.


  • Options
    #81
    UnknownSpecies
    Registered Users Posts: 3,183 ✭✭✭UnknownSpecies


    facehugger99 wrote: »
    Not enough evidence to find them guilty, but I suspect what went on that night was far beyond the bounds of chivalrous behavior. These lads reputations have been rightly ruined and careers ended I suspect.

    Given the victim was a young woman, I suspect the internet's finest will form a Twitter hate mob.

    God help her.

    Are you privy to some additional evidence that the jurors weren't? How have their reputations been rightly ruined? If it was your son up there, would you feel the same?


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #82
    Permabear
    Closed Accounts Posts: 39,022 ✭✭✭✭Permabear


    This post has been deleted.


  • Options
    #83
    Plague Maiden
    Closed Accounts Posts: 118 ✭✭Plague Maiden


    Misogynism is such an overused and misapplied word these days. It is not the same thing as sexism or the sexual objectification of women.


  • Options
    #84
    Omackeral
    Registered Users Posts: 32,956 ✭✭✭✭Omackeral


    ChikiChiki wrote: »
    How the bloody hell can you feel sorry for a liar??

    Because the patriarchy, obviously.


  • Options
    #85
    padd b1975
    Registered Users Posts: 10,703 ✭✭✭✭padd b1975


    Flying Fox wrote: »
    Not guilty just means that there wasn't enough evidence to convict them. Even the slightest bit of doubt and the jury have to find them not guilty. Doesn't mean they didn't do it, the only people who know that for certain are the people involved.

    The courts don't always get it right.

    They got it right on this occasion, she had over two months to make her case.


  • Options
    #86
    Akrasia
    Registered Users Posts: 22,236 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    Flying Fox wrote: »
    Not guilty just means that there wasn't enough evidence to convict them. Even the slightest bit of doubt and the jury have to find them not guilty. Doesn't mean they didn't do it, the only people who know that for certain are the people involved.

    Not slightest doubt, reasonable doubt. Big difference


  • Options
    #87
    Noveight
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,813 ✭✭✭Noveight


    Edward M wrote: »
    A horrible case, but ultimately I think the right verdict based on the evidence.

    Bang on the money.


  • Options
    #88
    Berserker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,046 ✭✭✭Berserker


    BoJack Horseman wrote: »
    Hopefully they will peruse a civil suit against the accuser for damages.

    They won't do that.
    endacl wrote: »
    Louise O'Neill's gonna explode...

    Perfect for her, isn't it. A nice juicy case involving a few rugby jocks.


  • Options
    #89
    AudreyHepburn
    Registered Users Posts: 5,673 ✭✭✭AudreyHepburn


    Anne1982h wrote: »
    I believe her solely because I have no idea why you would put yourself through that incredibly public and humiliating trial if nothing bad actually happened at all. It doesn’t make sense.

    Thankfully you need something a lot stronger than that to convict someone.

    Women can and do lie about rape for a myriad of reasons and to simply believe them without asking questions just isn’t good enough.


  • Options
    #90
    yerwanthere123
    Registered Users, Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 7,295 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Oh Jesus, Louise O'Neill is already out in force on Twitter. Didn't take long.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #91
    py2006
    Registered Users Posts: 9,847 ✭✭✭py2006


    Plague Maiden wrote: »
    Misogynism is such an overused and misapplied word these days. It is not the same thing as sexism or the sexual objectification of women.

    Nowadays it is used to dismiss men (and only men) who disagree with or criticise the opinions or actions of any woman.


This discussion has been closed.
Advertisement