The four accused in the rape trial of Ireland and Ulster players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding have been acquitted of all charges at Laganside Crown Court in Belfast.

Following three hours and 45 minutes hours of deliberations and eight weeks of evidence the jury of eight men and three women returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all counts. There were muted cries of happiness from the public galleries as the verdicts were read out.

Judge Patricia Smyth told all the defendants, except Mr Olding, that they had been acquitted on all charges and were free to leave the dock. Outside court the men embraced their families and legal teams.

Brendan Kelly QC, for Mr Jackson, said there may be an application for his client’s legal costs.

Following the verdicts, the judge told the jury it must deal with the remaining count of vaginal rape against Mr Olding. She described this as a technicality and instructed the jury to enter a not guilty verdict as the prosecution had declined to enter any evidence.

The forewoman then announced a final not guilty verdict and Judge Smyth told Mr Olding he was also free to leave the dock.

She then addressed the jury and thanked them for their “time and the enormous commitment.”

“I know it has been at great personal cost to all of you,” she said.

“This has probably been the most difficult trial that any jury in Northern Ireland has had to sit on.”

Finally she warned them they are forbidden from discussing their deliberations with anyone.

Mr Jackson and Mr Olding were accused of raping a 19-year-old Belfast student at the same time in Mr Jackson’s bedroom during a party. Their friend Blane McIlroy was accused of entering the room naked and asking the woman for sex.

A fouth man, Rory Harrison, was accused of covering up the alleged rape by misleading police and withholding information during the investigation.

Mr Jackson consistently denied having intercourse with the woman. Stuart Olding said the oral sex had been consensual.

The court heard that a witness, Dara Florence, walked in and Jackson had asked Ms Florence if she would like to join in. Some time later it was alleged Blane McIlroy arrived at the door naked and holding his penis. It was at this point, the woman said her fight instincts kicked in and she fled.

Mr McIlroy denied exposure and told the court that consensual sexual activity took place with the woman.

The trial heard how Rory Harrison dropped the woman home in a taxi shortly after 5am. He sent her a text saying: “Keep your chin up you wonderful young woman.”

In further communications the next day the woman told Mr Harrison that what had happened “was not consensual”. He said he did not believe it. He was initially treated as a witness but was later charged with perverting the course of justice and withholding information. He was found not guilty.

Mr Jackson and Mr Olding were arrested two days after the incident on June 30th, 2016. They answered all questions during interviews but when they were re-interviewed in October they made no comment, on legal advice.

The court sat on weekdays but in an unusual step to make up lost time, a special Saturday sitting was held. On week two, jurors were taken by bus to see the layout of Paddy Jackson’s home at Oakleigh Park. All other proceedings have taken place inside courtroom number 12, one of the biggest in the Laganside complex. The 100-seat public gallery has been packed to capacity on almost all of the 40 plus days.

Mr Jackson (26), of Oakleigh Park, Belfast pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault in the early hours of June 28th, 2016 at a party in his house. Mr Olding (25), of Ardenlee Street, Belfast, denied one count of rape on the same occasion. Both men contended the activity was consensual.

Mr McIlroy (26), of Royal Lodge Road, Ballydollaghan, Belfast, pleaded not guilty to one count of exposure while Mr Harrison (25), from Manse Road, Belfast, pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice and withholding information relating to the incident.

The prosecution has finished its case in the rape trial of Ireland and Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.

The jury of eight men and three women will begin hearing the defence case on Monday with Judge Patricia Smyth telling Laganside Crown Court the four accused will have an opportunity to give evidence or to call witnesses.

The jury at Laganside Crown Court in Belfast heard on Thursday that Mr Olding had originally been charged with vaginally raping the 19-year-old complainant but the charge was dropped just before Christmas.

Mr Jackson (26), of Oakleigh Park, Belfast has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault in the early hours of June 28th, 2016 at a party in his house.

Mr Olding (24), of Ardenlee Street, Belfast, denies one count of rape on the same occasion. Both men contend the activity was consensual.

Blane McIlroy (26), of Royal Lodge Road, Ballydollaghan, Belfast, has pleaded not guilty to one count of exposure while Rory Harrison (25), from Manse Road, Belfast, pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice and withholding information relating to the incident.

A senior investigating officer with the PSNI’s Rape Crime Unit confirmed to defence counsel that Mr Olding was originally investigated and charged with vaginally raping the student.

Forensic testing

Frank O’Donoghue QC, for Mr Olding, asked the officer why the clothing his client was wearing on the night of the alleged rape was not seized and sent for forensic testing.

The trial heard Mr Olding’s house was searched two days later and some clothes were seized but these were not the clothes he was wearing that night.

His clothes would “surely have evidential value” such as showing if Mr Olding’s semen was on his shirt or boxer shorts, counsel said. He said this would have been particularly relevant to the charge of vaginal rape which Mr Olding faced at the time.

The officer denied the clothes had significant evidential value. She said Mr Olding had already admitted he ejaculated and testing the clothes wouldn’t have done anything to prove vaginal rape.

Counsel also asked the officer why she didn’t ask the complainant “some very obvious questions” during her two interviews, such as what happened to her top during the alleged rape.

“Is there not an absence of important detail in these interviews?” Mr O’Donoghue asked the officer.

Version of events

The officer said the purposes of the interviews were not to probe the complainant but to allow her give her version of events in her own words.

On the evening after the alleged rape the woman was examined by a Dr Philip Lavery who took notes and made a statement, both of which were later handed over to police. The officer told counsel she read both these documents.

“When you got Dr Lavery’s statement you must have said ‘what in God’s name is this?’” Mr O’Donoghue said.

He said it must have been apparent to the police that the doctor’s account of what the woman told him contained a number of significant inconsistencies with what she told police during her interviews.

Counsel asked if, in light of this, any consideration was given to interviewing the complainant a third time to ask her about the inconsistencies.

The officer said she does not know if it was discussed but that ultimately no decision was taken to conduct a third interview. She said a third interview would only be done if the complainant said she had further information.

The trial will not sit in evidence on Friday due to the weather. It is expected to finish by March 16th.

Ireland and Ulster rugby player Stuart Olding was charged with vaginally raping a 19 year old Belfast student until the charge was dropped just before last Christmas, his trial has heard.

Mr Olding is standing trial at Laganside Crown Court in Belfast accused of one count of oral rape while his co-accused and teammate Paddy Jackson is accused of vaginal rape and sexual assault.

This morning a senior investigating officer with the PSNI’s Rape Crime Unit confirmed to Mr Olding’s defence counsel he was originally investigated for and charged with vaginally raping the woman.

Frank O’Donoghue QC, for Mr Olding, asked the officer why the clothing his client was wearing on the night of the alleged rape was not seized and sent for forensic testing.

The trial heard Mr Olding’s house was searched two days later and some clothes were seized but these were not the clothes he was wearing that night.

His clothes would “surely have evidential value” such as showing if Mr Olding’s semen was on his shirt or boxer shorts, counsel said. He said this would have been particularly relevant to the charge of vaginal rape which Mr Olding faced at the time.

The officer denied the clothes had significant evidential value. She said Mr Olding had already admitted he ejaculated and testing the clothes would not have done anything to prove vaginal rape.

Counsel also asked the officer why she didn’t ask the complainant “some very obvious questions” during her two interviews, such as what happened to her top during the alleged rape.

“Is there not an absence of important detail in these interviews?” Mr O’Donoghue asked the officer.

The officer said the purposes of the interviews were not to probe the complainant but to allow her give her version of events in her own words.

On the evening after the alleged rape the woman was examined by a Dr Philip Lavery who took notes and made a statement, both of which were later handed over to police. The officer told counsel she read both these documents.

“When you got Dr Lavery’s statement you must have said ‘what in God’s name is this’,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

He said it must have been apparent to the police that the doctor’s account of what the woman told him contained a number of significant inconsistencies with what she told police during her interviews.

Counsel asked if, in light of this, any consideration was given to interviewing the complainant a third time to ask her about the inconsistencies.

The officer said she does not know if it was discussed but that ultimately no decision was taken to conduct a third interview. She said a third interview would only be done if the complainant said she had further information.

Mr Jackson (26), of Oakleigh Park, Belfast has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault in the early hours of June 28th, 2016 at a party in his house. Mr Olding (24), of Ardenlee Street, Belfast, denies one count of rape on the same occasion. Both men contend the activity was consensual.

Blane McIlroy (26), of Royal Lodge Road, Ballydollaghan, Belfast, has pleaded not guilty to one count of exposure while Rory Harrison (25), from Manse Road, Belfast, pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice and withholding information relating to the incident.

The trial continues before Judge Patricia Smyth and the jury of eight men and three women.