Grim case can be first step to real equality
THE nine-week Belfast rape trial, grim as it proved, was not just a legal case but may also be a landmark moment in how we deal with the wider social and societal issues it raised. Prime among them is a growing misunderstanding of, and even contempt for, the jury system of justice.
There have been protests all over the country by people shouting ‘I believe her’ but none of them were in court; none heard all the evidence that was heard by the jury, and none has offered any viable alternative to that system.
Judgment by 12 of your peers is far from perfect but it is superior to many other judicial systems. We must stand by the principle of trial by jury in prosecuting such serious crimes as rape and murder. To do that, we have to trust juries and their considered evaluation of all the evidence, not just the fragments we heard.
What the case also highlighted is the sheer lack of responsibility on social media. Not just those who named a complainant whose anonymity is assured. Not just the juror who openly discussed the case on a chat forum. Not just the senator who tweeted about the verdict but everyone who shared uninformed comment.
Courts and the police services have not even begun to wise up to social media’s power to distort facts, while governments – with the unfortunate exception of totalitarian regimes – don’t seem to have the appetite to hold social media companies to account for what they publish. These companies have a responsibility to root out the vile and the vulgar, the lies and deception, the hatred and hurt. Are multi-nationals not obliged to have a moral duty?
Most importantly of all, this case highlighted a culture among young men that is utterly repulsive. What the defendants said privately about women is not unique to rugby; indeed, subsequent tweets from a Gaelic footballer and a soccer player show that such attitudes to women are endemic. This betrays a repugnantly macho attitude to women, who are seen as playthings instead of equals.
Talk of consent clauses for teenage boys is too late – and too little. Boys would not need consent classes if they learned to respect women, and that has to start at home. Equally, a coach can have an influential role in teaching young sportsman to have respect for women. Putting an end to to locker-room banter would be a powerful start.
Last year, the #MeToo movement lifted the lid on misogyny in high places and highlighted other issues such as the gender pay gap. Equality is the key issue of the day. It will not happen overnight but the Belfast trial shows we seriously must engage with the process.