A lot of people were left feeling angry and frustrated after watching RTE’s special documentary on the Paddy Jackson rape trial.
The national broadcaster aired ‘Acquitted’ on Thursday night, a once-off documentary recounting what happened in the seriously controversial trial.
Paddy and fellow rugby star Stuart Olding were on trial for raping a 19-year-old girl, with their pals Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison accused of lesser charges.
All four men were found not guilty, but the details of the trial, including a Whatsapp group which described women as ‘Belfast sluts’ and spoke about ‘spit roasting’ the young woman, caused serious backlash.
As the details were brought to the forefront again, viewers took to Twitter to share their anger at the trial and the outcome:
Oh fuck off Neil Francis. Paddy Jackson is not the most unlucky the victim was. He's off in France & she has to cope with not getting justice #Acquitted
— @Aoifs123 (@Aoifs123) July 19, 2018
Seriously @IndoRugby Neil Francis??? Paddy Jackson lost the most?? Is he not in France playing rugby…….#acquitted pic.twitter.com/3zLSFzXFLf
— Aisling Horan (@HoranAisling) July 19, 2018
Listening to Acquitted on @rte, @thebrendapower points out exactly what's wrong. We haven't learnt anything from it. I was one of very few people who thought Asking for it wasn't good. It talks vacuously about rape, beauty, not delving into issues of consent, control, power.
— Emmanuelle Schon (@ESchonQuinlivan) July 19, 2018
I knew I’d be raging after watching this but hearing all this again genuinely just leaves me dumbfounded.. how did they get away with it #acquitted
— Kate Byrne (@Katebyrne7) July 19, 2018
After watching #acquitted and I can honestly say I hope no one ever has to go through what that poor did???? it’s clear why so many rape cases go unreported. #istillbelieveher
— Zoe Dickinson (@ZoeDickinson97) July 19, 2018
