Ireland international Jackson denies rape allegation
By Ian Graham
BELFAST, March 7 (Reuters) - Ireland rugby international Paddy Jackson denied raping a 19-year-old girl in his home in 2016 when he took the stand in a Belfast court room on Wednesday.
Jackson, 26, and his Ulster team mate Stuart Olding, 24, have both pleaded not guilty. Jackson has also been charged with sexual assault and two other men face charges in connection with the same alleged incident.
In week five of the trial, the court heard Jackson's account of what happened after a night of heavy drinking the day after he returned home from Ireland's tour of South Africa.
"I wouldn't do that" Jackson told Belfast Crown Court when his barrister put the allegation to him.
He said the complainant was one of a number of women that returned to his house after meeting the rugby players and their friends in a Belfast nightclub.
"I didn't know any of the girls who came back", said Jackson.
He said he noticed one of the women looking at him in his living room and was under the impression that she was attracted to him. He said she followed him to his bedroom on two separate occasions for consensual sexual activity.
On the second occasion, he said they were joined by Olding, who also engaged in consensual sexual activity with the complainant.
He denied he had coerced her into engaging with Olding as alleged by the prosecution.
Also facing charges relating to the case are Blane McIlroy, who denies exposing himself, and Rory Harrison, who denies perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
Neither Olding or Jackson, who have represented their country a combined 29 times, will play at club or national level until the matter is concluded, the Irish Rugby Football Union has said. (Reporting by Ian Graham; Editing by Jon Boyle)
