Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RUGBY STARS: WE’LL FIGHT RAPE CLAIMS
Ulster’s Jackson & Olding deny allegations
TWO Ulster rugby stars facing rape charges are to mount an early challenge to the evidence against them, a court heard yesterday.
Lawyers for Paddy Jackson, 25, and 24-year-old Stuart Olding confirmed they want a hearing to test the strength of the prosecution’s case.
Both players strenuously deny any offences allegedly committed against the same woman at a house in Belfast in June last year.
It had been anticipated they would appear before the city’s Magistrates Court along with two other men charged in connection with the case. But none of the defendants were in attendance as proceedings got underway. Jackson, of Oakleigh Park in Belfast, is charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. Olding, of Ardenlee Street, is charged with two counts of rape.
Olding’s solicitor Joe Rice told the court he will be pleading not guilty to both charges.
Referring to one of the rape allegations, the lawyer said: “We do not accept there’s a sufficiency of evidence to return to the Crown Court.”
He pledged to make a “robust application” to have that count dismissed at a preliminary stage.
Jackson’s lawyer Joe Mcveigh set out a similar denial to the allegations against him.
The stars, also team-mates for Ireland, are not being considered for selection while court proceedings continue.
The case was adjourned until September 6 when a date is expected to be set for the preliminary enquiry hearing.