Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘A throwback to days of male entitlement’
Pair ‘not interested’ in woman’s views, court told
THE rape trial of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding yesterday heard men were no longer entitled to impose their will on women and “the world has moved on”.
Summing up the case for the prosecution, Toby Hedworth QC told the jury of eight men and three women it is “not the male who decides how far this will go”.
He added: “What happened in Patrick Jackson’s bedroom represents a throwback to the days of male entitlement.
“We are not talking about ‘me too’ and gender politics, we are talking about the conduct of some males and the first two defendants in this trial, we submit, that the evidence has shown they’re not interested in the views of a young woman if the passions are up and no doubt full of drink. Her views are not sought.”
Mr Hedworth described the trial process as “long and at times gruelling” as he reminded the jury about the evidence the complainant gave when she took the stand for eight days from January 31.
He added: “The law of this land is that a young woman is allowed to say ‘no’. It’s not a case of, ‘if she was up for something then I, and my friends, can do as I and we please’.
“A young woman is allowed to say ‘no’ and it should be heeded.
“It not only needs to be heeded but must be heeded. The law is not, ‘you let me kiss you so I can force myself upon you’. It is not ‘I, the male who decides how far this will go’.
“The law is not that ‘if I and my friend fancy he can join in and I can do as I please’.
“She made it plain she was not interested in taking matters further... which she was entitled to do.
“The world has moved on but unfortunately the behaviour of some in our society has not.”
Jackson, 26, from Belfast’s Oakleigh Park, denies one count of rape and one CASE Toby Hedworth QC count of sexual assault at his home on June 28, 2016. Olding, 24, from Ardenlee Street in the city, also denies rape. Blane Mcilroy, 26, of Royal Lodge Road, denies one count of exposure while 25-year-old Rory Harrison, from Manse Road, pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice and withholding information. Mr Hedworth claimed evidence given by the four did not add up.
He referred to Harrison’s messages to the men that the complainant had been in hysterics, that he was calming and how he “threw her home”.
Mr Hedworth described Harrison as a “heartless young man who found the whole thing so amusing”. He added: “Although he should have known better, he was just like the rest of them. Sadly, we submit, his conduct has to be put into the context of everything we know about his conduct...he was one of the boys, sticking together.”
The prosecutor advised the jury to rely on life experience to help them decide the outcome of the trial and warned them not to be persuaded by “smoke and mirrors”. He said: “When you come to this court you do not leave your common sense and experience behind you.”
As he ended his closing speech to the jury the prosecutor referred to a Whatsapp message between Jackson, Olding and friends that described them as “legends”.
Mr Hedworth said to jury: “The lads. The legends. You decide.”
When you come to this court you don’t leave common sense behind TOBY HEDWORTH QC YESTERDAY