Rugby players’ rape trial juror still being probed for contempt

ONLINE comments allegedly posted by a juror in the rugby rape trial are still being investigated by Northern Ireland’s Attorney General, nearly six months on.

The remarks, published in the comment section of an online blog, are understood to have been made by a jury member following the unanimous not guilty verdicts against Paddy Jackson (26) and Stuart Olding (25).

Details of John Larkin’s ongoing investigation comes as a man accused of revealing the name of the woman who alleged she had been raped by the two former Ireland and Ulster rugby stars is due in court today.

West Belfast man Sean McFarland (35) faces a single charge under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 and, if convicted, he could face a fine of up to £5,000.

Yesterday a spokesman for Mr Larkin’s office confirmed that the Attorney General is still investigating the juror’s alleged online comments during the case.

Charge: Sean McFarland

“Consideration of potential contempt of court in relation to jury deliberations in a recent criminal trial continues,” he said.

“Those directly affected will be informed of the outcome of that consideration.”

The alleged remarks by a juror appeared below a story on the website Broadsheet.ie hours after the unanimous not guilty verdicts were delivered.

At the end of March Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan referred those comments to the Attorney General’s office for the region’s senior law officer to investigate whether they represent a breach of contempt of court laws.

Under law jurors are not permitted to disclose details of their deliberations in any trial.

Meanwhile, Mr McFarland is due in Belfast Magistrates Court today charged with breaching the woman’s right to lifetime anonymity while the trial was ongoing in February this year.

Mr Jackson and Mr Olding were unanimously acquitted of raping the then 19-year-old woman at a party in Mr Jackson’s house after a night out in Belfast in June 2016. Blane McIlroy (26) was unanimously cleared of a charge of exposure while Rory Harrison (25) was unanimously found not guilty of perverting the course of justice and withholding information, following a nineweek trial at Belfast Crown Court.

The Belfast Telegraph revealed last month that a man had been charged with breaching the woman’s anonymity.

A second person suspected of committing the same offence was not to be prosecuted due to insufficient evidence, the Public Prosecution Service said.