Sponsor concerns over ‘conduct issues’ revealed at trial
BANK of Ireland, one of Ulster Rugby’s top-flight sponsors, has told the club’s chief it is ‘highly concerned’ about what emerged from the Belfast rape trial.
The bank is just one of a number of sponsors who have decided not to comment on further sponsorship, until the findings of the reviews into Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding are revealed.
BoI is ‘highly concerned’ at the ‘serious behaviour and conduct issues’ revealed in the high-profile trial, in which all those charged were found not guilty.
Another firm, BT said it would ‘await the finding’ of the IRFU and Ulster Rugby reviews before deciding on the next step.
Sponsorship is key to success for most sporting organisations in Ireland. In Ulster Rugby’s case, it accounts for about a quarter of its income.
In total the sponsors – a list that also includes Dale Farm, Moy Park and Kingspan – provided €3.8million of the team’s total income of €11.3million last year, it has been reported. All three said they did not wish to comment until the reviews into the two players are completed. Both men are suspended pending the reviews which are expected to conclude within weeks.
A spokesman for BoI, which has sponsored the club for 20 years, said it contacted the team’s chief executive Shane Long over issues raised during the trial.
The bank said in a statement: ‘As a sponsor of Ulster Rugby, Bank of Ireland is highly concerned regarding the serious behaviour and conduct issues which have emerged as a result of the recent high-profile trial. Bank has formally conveyed these concerns to the CEO of Ulster Rugby.
‘It is of paramount importance to Bank of Ireland that our sponsorship activity aligns with and supports our core values, and reflects positively on Bank of Ireland through association. We understand that an internal review is underway. We expect this review to be robust, to fully address the issues raised, and that decisions will be taken – and policies and protocols be put in place – that fully address the issues that have arisen. Given that a review is underway, we won’t comment further on this issue at this time.’
A BT spokesman said yesterday: ‘As a sponsor of the team, we have been in contact with Ulster Rugby.
‘We note that the players concerned will continue to be relieved of all duties while the IRFU and Ulster Rugby internal review is underway, and we await the findings.’
There have been calls and protests across the country with some insisting Mr Jackson and Mr Olding should not be allowed to return to play with the Ulster rugby team.
However others, such as former British Lions captain, Willie John McBride, said that following the men’s acquittal, they should be back playing rugby. Mr McBride, president of the Official Ulster Rugby Supporters Club, told the Seán O’Rourke show on Wednesday that they should be severely reprimanded, but had learnt their lesson.
A Dale Farms spokeswoman said it ‘fully respects Ulster Rugby and IRFU’s current internal investigation and as such is not in a position to comment on this matter.’
A spokesman for Moy Park said: ‘The company is an official supplier to Ulster Rugby. It would be inappropriate to comment further as Ulster Rugby and the IRFU are conducting an internal review.’
Kingspan told the Irish Daily Mail yesterday that it did not wish to comment.
Mr Jackson, 26, and Mr Olding, 25, were acquitted of raping the same woman at a house party at Mr Jackson’s south Belfast home in June 2016. Mr Jackson was also cleared of sexual assault.