Officer ‘suspected that Ulster players were involved’

THE first police officer to speak to the complainant suspected that members of the Ulster Rugby team might have been involved before any names were given, the trial has heard.

The police constable said the woman was reluctant to identify her alleged attackers because she was concerned about publicity and their “high profile.”

He recalled that when she said she had been at Ollie’s nightclub he suspected Ulster players were involved.

Giving evidence at Belfast Crown Court, the officer said: “She wasn’t telling me anything about the people involved, she wouldn’t tell me. So I asked her, ‘If I ask you an honest question will you give me an honest answer?’ and she said ‘yes’.”

The officer explained through a family link he was aware the rugby players frequented the city centre nightclub.

“When she mentioned Ollie’s I suspected that maybe Ulster rugby players were involved,” he said. “I asked if they were Ulster rugby players and she said they were.”

The woman later named the players as Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding and a third man Blane McIlroy, the court heard.

According to his notes, the woman, who was aged 19 at the time of the alleged attack, was “crying” and “upset”. She was also concerned about publicity and did not want her family to know about what had allegedly happened, the court was told.

Four men are standing trial on charges connected with the alleged attack.

Jackson (26) and Olding (24) deny rape. Jackson denies a further charge of sexual assault. McIlroy (26) denies one charge of exposure and a fourth man, Rory Harrison (25) denies perverting the course of justice and withholding evidence.

In cross examination by Jackson’s barrister Brendan Kelly QC, the officer was asked if the complainant had told police about any witnesses to her “grave allegations”, other than Rory Harrison and two of her friends.

The officer said: “She did not mention any other witnesses.”

The jury has been warned not to research the case and to hear all the evidence before reaching a conclusion. The case continues.