Juror who posted comments online could face arrest
A JUROR in the Belfast rape trial who made online comments about the case involving Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding could face arrest, it has emerged.
The comments are being investigated by the Attorney General John Larkin after they were posted just hours after the jury returned not guilty verdicts against the four defendants at the centre of the case.
A spokesman for Mr Larkin’s office confirmed the matter had been referred to him by the Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan.
The Attorney General will investigate whether the comments represent a breach of contempt of court laws.
The remarks allegedly made by the juror — which were reported by the Irish Times — appeared on a blogging website under a story about the verdict.
Under law, jurors are not permitted to disclose details of their deliberations in any trial.
It emerged yesterday that the juror is an online commentator who used the blogging website to post stories about the PSNI, Brexit and gender transitioning.
A fresh online statement yesterday purporting to be from the juror said: “I received a phone call yesterday from the office of The Lord Chief Justice in Belfast regarding comments I had made on (the website). I was asked if I had a lawyer and I was told that I am liable for arrest.
“I was instructed to contact (the website) to take down any reference to myself in regard to the ‘Ulster Rugby Rape Trial’... (the website) reacted momentarily to comply.
“I had a series of phone calls and one email from the Lord Chief Justice’s Office. I did ask: where did the complaint originate? I was told The Irish Times.
“I called The Irish Times and spoke to a reporter who confirmed this.
“The comments I made referring to the case were within the parameters of the judge’s discharge to all the jurors. The one thing she said was: “Do not reveal conversations or discussions that occurred in the jury room”.
“Following my comments, there is now an order, delivered to me, by Judge Patricia Smyth QC, for the jury members to not comment on this case at all.
“I will, of course, abide by this, but hope to keep contributing to (the website) on other subjects.”
Ulster and Ireland stars Paddy Jackson (26) and Stuart Olding (25) were acquitted of raping the same woman following a nine-week trial at Belfast Crown
Court. Friends Blane McIlroy (26) was found not guilty of exposure, and Rory Harrison (25) was acquitted of perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
Addressing the juror’s alleged comments, Mr Jackson’s solicitor Joe McVeigh said: “This is symptomatic of the intense pressure and scrutiny the jury clearly feel under.
“Their decision-making process isn’t something that the public should know about. The integrity of our jury system is dependent upon the secrecy of how they come to their decision.
“The facts belong to the jury and the law belongs to the judge.
“How the jury interpret the facts and what weight they give to certain evidence is entirely a matter for them and should never be opened up to public scrutiny.
“This trial has been characterised by intense social media pressure. It has infected the process. I could understand any juror feeling the need to react to some of the misinformed and misconceived commentary put forward on social media.
“But it isn’t for the juror to
take on the burden of that responsibility alone. The juror is one person, not the jury.
“And the jury themselves shouldn’t feel this pressure and more importantly shouldn’t feel that they need to right the wrongs of how social media attempts to corrupt our process.
“The freedom we will have to speak can’t be exercised in such a way that it risks our trial process and leaves our jurors feeling that they have to publicly justify their decision and correct what are misconceived comments on social media.”
He added: “I have great sympathy for a juror feeling that they need to react but our jurors can’t be carrying the burden of what’s wrong with our system.
“They should make their decision and that should be the end.”
Mr Olding’s solicitor Paul Dougan said: “Given that a referral to both the office of the Lord Chief Justice and the Office of the Attorney General has been made and is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for me to comment.
“The Attorney General has power to investigate and I understand that is currently taking place.”