Rugby player acquitted in 2018 Belfast rape trial says he is ‘worried’ about upcoming TV drama about the case

A rugby player who was acquitted along with his pal of raping a woman in 2016 said he was “concerned” about the upcoming portrayal of the case in a drama due to air next year.

The trial of Paddy Jackson, who was acquitted of rape alongside fellow rugby player Stuart Olding, will be the focus of the six-part drama #IBelieveHer, currently in production.

The series is named after the hashtag that appeared on X/Twitter accounts in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK following the acquittal verdicts in the Belfast rape trial in 2018 – a case that captured the nation’s attention.

Jackson and Olding were accused of attacking a woman at a property in south Belfast in June 2016, while Rory Harrison was accused of perverting the course of justice and withholding information about the alleged incident, and Blane McIlroy was accused of exposure.

When grim details emerged from the trial, including WhatsApp messages in which Olding and Jackson had boasted about a “spit roast”, the nation recoiled in horror – but all four defendants were found not guilty. The ruling led to a series of protests across Ireland and Northern Ireland, with demonstrators carrying placards reading #IBelieveHer.

A six-part drama with a budget of €9 million is now in the works, with production scheduled to complete next year.

Extra.ie reports that #IBelieveHer will be helmed by award-winning Northern Irish director Mary McGuckian, and director Kirsten Sheridan is also believed to be attached to the project.

The promotional material for the series, according to the Irish Independent, reads: “A courtroom drama based on trial transcripts and public domain reports; “This six-part drama series explores the full spectrum of rape myth culture as we follow the complainant’s journey through the criminal justice system under the full glare of media attention attracted by the defendant’s sporting prominence.”

It follows a trial in which supporters of the complainant were shocked by the prosecution’s arguments, which branded her a liar and claimed she was embarrassed at being caught having a threesome.

They claimed she lied about the rape because she feared photos of the alleged incident would end up on the internet.

Mr Jackson’s lawyer, Joe McVeigh, criticized the police investigation as “biased” and said the rugby star had “paid a heavy price”. He said police ignored discrepancies in the woman’s statements.

Now Jackson’s legal team has spoken out again, claiming their client is “concerned” because he was allegedly not given any information about the TV show and its portrayal in advance.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, KRW Law’s Kevin Winters said: “Any drama based on a high-profile trial and created in collaboration with all parties must be welcomed.”

He added that the production team should also consult witnesses and the complainant and that the content of the series should be “consistent with the innocence of the accused.”

Mr Winters added: “However, I am concerned that we are off to a bad start as I have no information at all that anyone has been contacted about this.” “We will now take action to address this lack of information.”

Evidence heard in the high-profile trial divided the nation when WhatsApp messages sent by Olding and Jackson in a group chat with their friends were read out.

The jury was told that Olding allegedly wrote: “We’re all top b******s” before adding: “It was like a carousel at a carnival.”

He also wrote: “There was a bit of spit-roasting last night, folks,” the court heard.

It is also alleged that Jackson responded on the same WhatsApp messaging service: “There was a lot of spit.”

Messages in her group included jokes about “bird pumping” and a photo was shared with the caption “Love Belfast s****.”

In another message that was also read out, McIlroy boasted: “Pumped a bird with Jacko on Monday, fried ’em, then another on Tuesday night.”

Jackson, 26, and his Ireland and Ulster teammate Stuart Olding, 25, were unanimously acquitted at Belfast Crown Court of raping the same woman at a party at Jackson’s south Belfast home in June 2016. Jackson was also found not guilty of sexual assault.

Just hours after the verdict, Reclaim the Night Belfast organized demonstrations in Northern Irish cities, London and Ireland.

The group wrote on Facebook: “The feminist movement is calling for a rally in response to the impact of the recent rape trial in Belfast.”

“There is great anger and upset among women who have observed the treatment of the (woman) in this case and found it distressing and re-traumatic.”

On Twitter, Humans actress Gemma Khan expressed her support for the complainant.

She wrote: “(I) can’t stop thinking about the poor young woman in the Belfast case.” I hope she knows how many of us support her and believe her. The legal system is directed against the victims. Rape culture is real. Education about consent has never been more important than it is today.”

Many used their messages to support the woman, who gave evidence throughout the trial, which the judge described as “probably the most difficult trial that a jury has ever had to decide in Northern Ireland”.

After the case concluded, Jackson – who was also acquitted of a separate sexual assault charge – said: “I want to thank the judge and jury for giving me a fair trial and my parents for being there every day were here.” as well as my brother and sisters.

“Out of respect for my employers, I have no further comment.”

Meanwhile, Olding’s lawyer Paul Dougan read out a statement on behalf of the rugby player.

He said: “I would like to publicly acknowledge that, although I did not commit any crime on the evening of June 28, 2016, I deeply regret the events of that evening.”

“I would like to acknowledge that the complainant appeared in court and gave evidence about her perception of these events.”

“I am sorry for any harm caused to the complainant.” It was never my intention to upset anyone that evening.

“I disagree with her perception of events and maintain that everything that happened that evening was consensual.”

On the night the woman said she was attacked, Mr Jackson and Mr Olding had been walking home with a group of women after partying in the VIP area of ​​Ollie’s nightclub in Belfast.

As a witness, the then 19-year-old woman said she was attacked in Mr Jackson’s home after she went to retrieve her bag from a bedroom.

She said she froze as he pulled down her pants and raped her from behind before Mr Olding came in and allegedly forced her to perform a sex act on him at the same time.

The court heard key evidence from party-goer Dara Florence, who accidentally attended the sexual encounter.

She described it as a “threesome” and said the woman did not look distressed, Belfast Crown Court heard.

The alleged victim had not mentioned the witness’s presence in early reports of the night.

Paddy Jackson has since said he will always regret the events of the night in question and apologized “unreservedly” for having “demeaning and offensive” WhatsApp conversations about the incident.