DOZENS of people attended a solidarity rally in Letterkenny in support of the woman at the centre of the Belfast rape trial, calling for a major system change. 

 

The local rally was one of a number to take place around the country on Friday. It came one day after Ulster and Ireland rugby player, Paddy Jackson and fellow rugby player, Stuart Olding were cleared of rape. They both denied raping the same woman in Mr Jackson’s house in the early hours of June 28, 2016. Mr Jackson was also cleared of a charge of sexual assault. 

 

Blane McIllroy, who was accused of exposure, and Rory Harrison, who was charged with perverting the course of justice and withholding information, were also found not guilty. The verdicts came in the ninth week of the trial. The jury of eight men and three women deliberated for three hours and 45 minutes before delivering the unanimous verdicts. 

 

Organiser of the Letterkenny rally, Tom Barriscile said there was fear the outcome of the high-profile rape trial could deter victims of rape and sexual assault from coming forward.  

“The one thing that struck me was that it didn’t seem to matter about the different jurisdiction. This is an Irish issue on the issue of misogyny in Ireland and the nature of the justice system. 

“As far as I can tell from my own circles, there is just unspeakable anger and no-one knows what to make of it. There are so many people who have said they have totally lost faith in the justice system and they would never think of reporting a sexual assault now.”

 

Mr Barriscile said he believes the case has highlighted the existence of a certain type of societal culture. 

“I heard a couple of stories about people who heard the result and were celebrating.”

One woman who attended the rally said she was “angry”. 

“To me, it seems there was quite an injustice done. I just want to show  my support for the poor girl who had to go through the nine weeks of that trial and everything that went with it. It was a lot to go through and I believe her.”

 

Finnian O’Donnell, People Before Profit Donegal, said the system must change. 

“What they have to go through; they are harangued and their history is taken into account. It just doesn’t stand up. Regardless of the verdict; I don’t know what happened and no one here knows what happened,  but this is an opportunity to highlight this issue and to say the system is rigged against women. 

“What they (victims) have to go through is disgusting and horrible, surely the system has to change. 

The establishment parties are not there for the people. Politics has to catch up with modern times.”