Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I have not watered down anything.. we didn’t go into VIP to meet rugby players
Alleged victim denies having knowledge of sports stars
A WOMAN allegedly raped by two Irish international rugby stars denied yesterday being attracted to celebrities.
She also insisted she had no knowledge of the game or football when quizzed in court about a night out at a Belfast club.
The jury at the trial of Paddy Jackson, 26, and his 24-year-old Ulster team-mate Stuart Olding was shown CCTV footage of the woman and her friend in the VIP section of Ollie’s nightclub on June 28, 2016.
The video showed her in the company of some members of the Northern Ireland football side who were in the exclusive area, where the defendants and other rugby stars were also partying.
The jury was told they could see the woman briefly place her hand on the knee of striker Kyle Lafferty and momentarily hold on to the arm of centre-forward Will Grigg.
After the footage was played to Belfast Crown Court, a defence lawyer asked the complainant: “Were you attracted at the time to celebrities?”
She responded: “No, I didn’t know who those people were.”
The lawyer then said: “You knew who Paddy Jackson was.” The woman replied: “I knew his name and what he looked like.”
Earlier the complainant insisted she had not gone into the club’s VIP section specifically to meet players.
After leaving the nightclub the woman went to an after-party at Jackson’s home, where the alleged rape occurred.
She repeatedly insisted to the jury she had not been a follower of rugby or its players.
The court heard that before she reported the alleged attack to police a friend advised her in a text message to pretend she did not know they were rugby stars.
A defence lawyer for Jackson asked the woman: “Have you watered down your following of rugby or your knowledge of the people who played it?”
She responded: “Not at all. I have not watered down anything.”
The woman was asked if on the night of the alleged attack she was aware that Ulster Rugby players were in the exclusive section of the club before she went into it.
She responded: “We didn’t go into the VIP area to meet rugby players, if that’s what you are suggesting.” The court also heard how the complainant was concerned that photographs may have been taken of her during the alleged assault when she was then aged 19.
During a police interview, which was played for the jury, the woman told an officer that a female had walked into the bedroom when she was allegedly being assaulted by Jackson and Olding and that she did not know if she had taken pictures. The complainant said: “I was mortified at what was happening and I didn’t want to be identified if she was taking photos.”
The high-profile case, scheduled for five weeks, is being heard by Judge Patricia Smyth.
Jackson, from Oakleigh Park, and Olding, from Ardenlee Street, both South Belfast, deny rape.
Jackson has pleaded not guilty to a further charge of sexual assault. Two other Belfast men have also been returned for trial on charges connected with the same incident.
Blane Mcilroy, 26, from Royal Lodge Road, Bally dollaghan, has pleaded not guilty to one count of exposure.
Rory Harrison, 25, from Manse Road, denies perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
The case has been adjourned to Monday.