The jury of eight men and three women at Belfast Laganside court found the Ireland rugby internationals Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding not guilty of raping a woman who was 19 in 2016. After a nine-week trial, the jury found the pair’s friend Blane McIlroy not guilty of one count of indecent exposure. Their lawyers said the sporting careers of Jackson and Olding had been “blighted” by false rape claims. The rugby player continued: “The Stuart Olding who has been portrayed in the past nine weeks of this trial is the not the real Stuart Olding. On the future of Jackson and Olding as rugby stars, the Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Rugby said officials would review the matter and the players would continue to be relieved of all duties until its findings were delivered.

Source: The Guardian March 28, 2018 12:00 UTC