There has been a strong reaction online to the news that Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding have been found not guilty of rape.
The
verdict came today after jurors deliberated for three hours and 45 minutes.
Jackson and Olding were cleared on all counts while Blane McIlory was found not guilty of exposure and Rory Harrison found not guilty of perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
Since the news broke - and in spite of the clear verdict and subsequent statements from the mens' legal teams - many have shown their support for the accuser on social media.
Those supporters include charities who work with victims of sexual crimes and Labour Party Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin who said that he, "and thousands of others, believe her."
At the time of writing, the hashtag #IBelieveHer was the number one trending topic in Ireland.
https://twitter.com/tarastewartdj/status/978963766812512256
https://twitter.com/ClaireAllan/status/978959845696163840
https://twitter.com/TaraFlynn/status/978964343864905728
https://twitter.com/PeterMcGuireIE/status/978966396104331266
https://twitter.com/AodhanORiordain/status/978958200639754240
https://twitter.com/buzzoneill/status/978958398241853441
https://twitter.com/ronronzo/status/978960585185480704
https://twitter.com/TarynDeVere/status/978958820780183552
https://twitter.com/SugarMoonPaula/status/978961954814513158
https://twitter.com/georgieIockhart/status/978961494661586945
https://twitter.com/SarahAMcInerney/status/978962174113714177
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the details of this story, you can contact:
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: 1800 77 8888
Women's Aid: 1800 341 900
Samaritans: 116 123/Text: 087 2609090/email: jo@samaritans.ie
Pieta House: 1800 247 247
