TOXIC FALLOUT OF RUGBY RAPE TRIAL
Jackson to sue Labour senator for trial tweet Two quizzed for ‘naming’ accuser on social media Jury foreman may face jail for online comment ...but tweeters taunt rugby star: ‘#SueMePaddy’
THE dangers of Ireland’s ‘Wild West’ social media and comment websites were laid bare yesterday in a day of extraordinary drama following the Belfast rape trial verdicts.
Amid rising concern at ‘toxic’ internet content on Twitter, Facebook and other unregulated platforms, there was a string of potentially devastating repercussions following comments put online about the case of Paddy Jackson and three others. During the course of the day of drama:
A juror was quizzed by police and could face charges after defending the jury’s decisions on a news website.
Jackson’s lawyers said he is suing Labour senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, who
had questioned his innocence on Twitter, and would bring action against others.
Members of the public started the hashtag #SueMePaddy in response to threats of legal action.
The PSNI confirmed that two people had been interviewed for allegedly breaking the law by identifying on social media the complainant in the rape trial.
The extraordinary events came as more than 41,000 people signed a petition calling for the Irish Rugby Football Union to conduct a review of the behaviour of rugby internationals Jackson and coaccused Stuart Olding, who were on trial. They and two others were acquitted on all charges.
Wednesday’s unanimous acquittals have led to outpourings of public support for the complainant – with another march planned for today.
The case continues to spark furious debate across the country despite the acquittals.
Jackson wants to return to playing rugby for Ulster and Ireland. His lawyers yesterday announced he was suing Senator Ó Ríordáin over a tweet the politician posted.
They also warned they would take action against others on social media who seek to ‘challenge the integrity of the jury’s full endorsement of our client’s innocence’.
But on Twitter the hashtag #SueMePaddy began trending as members of the public reacted angrily to threats of legal action.
Laois Gaelic football forward Gary Walsh was suspended from the team over a tweet sent in relation to the verdict in the trial. Laois county board confirmed the
‘Social media has to be regulated’
player was suspended and disassociated itself yesterday from his tweet.
The PSNI said a juror in the rape trial has been interviewed about comments she made on broadsheet.ie after the verdict. The juror made a series of comments describing the trial, as well as answering questions from other users. In the posts, she also addressed the reasons the jury came to its decision and defended the amount of time it had taken to reach a verdict.
By law, jurors are not permitted to disclose details of their deliberations in any trial.
The Lord Chief Justice’s office said it had referred the matter to the Attorney General’s office and other relevant authorities.
A spokesman for Attorney General John Larkin confirmed the comments posted by a juror had been referred to his office, which is to investigate if these breach court laws. A source close to the investigation said: ‘We are in unknown territory, but it’s being treated very seriously.’
Ireland internationals Jackson, 26, and Stuart Olding, 25, were acquitted on Wednesday of raping the same woman following a nineweek trial at Belfast Crown Court. Jackson was also cleared of sexual assault by the jury of eight men and three women, who returned unanimous verdicts after three hours and 45 minutes of deliberation.
Their co-accused, Blane McIlroy, 26, was acquitted of exposure and Rory Harrison, 25, was found not guilty of perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
The PSNI has also quizzed two people about alleged breaches of the complainant’s legal right to anonymity.
‘There is an ongoing police investigation and two people have been interviewed in relation to an offence under section five of the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992,’ a PSNI spokesman said. ‘Two files have been forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service for consideration.’
The trial, which ran for 42 days, generated unprecedented attention and prompted calls from Jackson’s defence solicitor for a crackdown on social media comment during criminal proceedings.
In addition, restrictions on reporting on legal exchanges that take place in the absence of the jury usually fall away once the case is over. A number of outlets that covered the trial are now seeking to get ongoing restrictions imposed by Judge Patricia Smyth lifted. The matter has been listed for a mention on April 25. Lawyers for the media are trying to have the matter dealt with next week.
On RTÉ’s News at One, Cork solicitor Frank Buttimer spoke of the problem of online commentary during criminal trials.
He said: ‘There is a role for the legislatures to look at this and see what kind of legislation can be introduced. The whole area is unpoliced and unlegislated as far as I can see, and cases of this kind highlight that.
‘I think that we’re going to have to look very carefully as society at all of these issues to see what regulations we can put in place. Particularly in relation to criminal proceedings to exercise some restraint and, if I may say, to create penalties and sanctions in the event of a breach, because it is all very well to have rules and regulations but if there are not sanctions, I’m not sure people will adhere to rules and regulations voluntarily.’