Wednesday 18 April 2018

THE RUGBY PLAYER SCANDAL




THE RAPE TRIAL INVOLVING IRISH RUGBY PLAYERS PADDY JACKSON AND STUART OLDING HAS BEEN A SAD SAGA AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE NO "WINNERS" AND THAT ALL INVOLVED ARE "LOSERS".

These two men have been found legally not guilty and therefore from the purely legal perspective they must be regarded and treated as not guilty.

Of course, we must also remember that when you go to court you do not always get JUSTICE. Very often you just get LAW.

There is a world of difference between justice and law.

Many guilty people have been found innocent by the law. And many innocent people have been found guilty in law.

I suppose all that proves is that human justice is flawed and that all human legal systems are far from perfect.

Personally, I was very disturbed by the vicious cross-examination had to endure at the hands of the defense barristers in this case. I imagine her time in the witness box was at least as painful as the time in the bedroom.

She seemed like a piece of meat being torn asunder by the highly paid, flesh-eating barrister hounds.




It's like the old question: "What is 2 + 2"?

"The mathematician says it is 4.

"The philosopher says: "Let us reflect on these concepts".

And the lawyer says: "What would you like it to be"?

It makes us understand how few raped women - and men - come forward and make a complaint. Why would anyone, recovering from a rape, put themselves forward for such treatment?

Those genuine rape victims who do come forward are to be congratulated for their utter courage.

I am hoping that the women in this case, who I believe was a medical student, can find healing and go on to have a happy and productive life.


And I am not without sympathy for Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding. Its so easy in the rough and macho world of rugby to get yourself into bad places - especially when alcohol becomes involved.

I do think that the Rugby authorities in Ireland and Ulster were right to withdraw their licence to play.  Leaving legal guilt and innocence aside, the whole episode did bring their game into major public disrepute. 

In fairness to Paddy Jackson, he did say after his licence was revoked that he had fallen well below certain standards.

Maybe the playing ban injects a little bit of justice into the equation?

I hope that these five young people - the young lady and the four young men - manage to get over everything that has happened and that they all manage to secure a happy future.

And I hope that they will all learn important lessons from what has happened - especially the lesson that they will not make the same mistakes in the future.

"It's not what happens to you in life that is always important. It is how you handle it".





46 comments:

  1. I see Maynooth is yet to appoint a rector for the seminary. Could it be that this wont be happening as the seminary is being closed and the college will continue to function as a university for lay students?

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    1. 00.34: Nothing got to do with the topic for discussion. Obviously you're just interested in the gossip from Maynooth. Move on, for God's sake. The issue today has relevant questions for all of us, including you, gombeen!

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    2. yes....yes I am interested in some 'gossip'. This blog provides quite a lot of topical info. You're not here for the good of your health!

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    3. As Marshall would say: Grow up!!!

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    4. Correct, 09:52

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    5. All the lay students and alumni who have been campaigning to get the college chapel used for weddings will be delighted when Maynooth University takes over the chapel. I wonder if it will be used for same sex ceremonies.

      As it is, the seminary is totally hypocritical. People of the same sex, whether married or not, can book double-bed rooms in the seminary bedrooms which are hired out on a b&b business. Pat and his other half should make a booking on the website and expose the hypocrisy. Maybe book the Dublin rooms which are available when Dermo is not using them.

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    6. you're dead right 00:34. This site does provide lots of topical news and its always engaging. people log onto here for the latest revelations about gaynooth and the irish church

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    7. "Maybe book the Dublin rooms which are available when Dermo is not using them."

      Complete your thought, Donald Trump.


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  2. Sounds like Maynooth. Canonically the seminarians were not up to strange things so Hugh punished those who made 'false allegations'.

    We all know the truth.

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  3. However undesirable, there were two courts here: the law court, and the court of public opinion. It is said that only the former matters and counts. Ideally, yes. But in the real world?

    That young woman may not have secured the legal conviction of these men, but in the court of public opinion, there may well have been a different verdict.

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  4. This story is a parable of modern society in many ways. The explicit details of what occurred and as relayed through the court case were very disturbing. All participants in this drama are scarred for life, but I believe the woman has been deeply wounded, hurt and traumatised, regrettably. I hope all men and women look to this event and reflect on the consequence of their permissive behaviour. I was very concerned about the quantity of drink consumed by some. This ubdoubtedly fuelled the behaviour of all. Life will move on and I trust lesdons are learned by all but my prayer is for the woman and I pray she above all will have strength, courage and healing to readapt to her life and career. All of us who watched this drama have much to tell our children and teenagers. There is almost a complete disrespect for boundaries and a complete disrespect for the sanctity of our bodies which some think is there for all to do with what they like, irrespective of the outcome. Moral personal redpobsibilities are still relevant, perhaps now more than never and the issue of consent is vitally relevant.

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  5. There must be very little happening in the Oratory or Pat's life these day......
    Long time since we heard a good news story about either of them.

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    1. There is a lot happening. Not everything features on here.

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  6. I Won’t be commenting on this case as there are law suits pending against some people who have made comments on this case. It’s not worth the hassle.

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    1. We are not necessarily commenting on the actual case.

      We are reflecting on the lessons to learn.

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    2. You cannot really publicly "reflect" in print on an open blog without commenting. So don't, is my informed advice..

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  7. Interesting to compare how the relative parties handle the issue and compare it with how the church might handle an issue with some of the same elements

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  8. Agree with @12.22 Naomi Long got in hot water over commenting on this case, so much so the trial was halted for a short time. A Labour Irish Senator is being sued for comments made also.

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  9. Paddy Jackson is nothing to look at, but Stuart Olding is a different matter altogether! It's easy to see how any girl would be into him. He is a hot looking guy with a great body.

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    1. He’s a hot bit of stuff and from any girls point of view he’s easy on the eye. Reminds me of myself.


      Dalriada Dick

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    2. He is also easy on the eye for us gay men. Although, my own preference would be for his co-defendant Blane Mc Ilroy. He can come at me anytime with the Honourable Member in his hand :-)

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    3. But obviously a silly immature ass..

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    4. 18:37 you're welcome to Blane Mc Elroy......a bit to scrawny for me. He needs a good feed! I would gladly allow Stuart Olding come at me .....he is very HOT!

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    5. @17:01 - I beg to differ. Paddy Jackson is a very handsome example of God's creation. Stuart Olding ticks many of those boxes too... But PJ? Wow!

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  10. Brian D’Arcy on RTÉ 1 at 9.30pm, no doubt stating his regrets for not being able to marry a woman. When will the man desist with such fiction.

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    1. What's the name of the programme? Fantasy Island or Jackanory?

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    2. He did his own version of come round to Daniel O'Donnell's come round for tea. During the Graan Novena cups of tea used to be served to people in the pews.

      The new Rector has put a stop to that tacky and irreverent gimmick.

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    3. I don't think Gary O'Donegan CP is the marrying kind.

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    4. @20:49

      The old closet queen, Cliff Richard, was on BBC News at Ten too!

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    5. 20.49 He may be on the level strange as it sounds. In his place I might say that same. Many clerics are aware of much but do they see the full picture. Some are more commentators than participators

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    6. @21.25

      W h a t on e a r t h a r e y o u in s i n u a t i n g ? ? ?

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    7. @21.18

      No, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy!

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    8. So what, the lot iv y'?! Does their sexuality really matter? (U harridans dont't count here.😆)

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    9. Thought D'Arcy spoke well, actually (if a little too loquaciously for my notoriously low-boredom threshold).

      I always get the impression that Fr D'Arcy is speaking against the clock. You know: a lot to say, but not enough time in which to say it.😆

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    10. Here is me thinking all the womanizers are in Crossgar. I hear the shinners are missing Gary from West Belfast.

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    11. Brian D’Arcy... Daniel O'Donnell... Cliff Richard... OH, PLEEEEEEEESE... L O L !!!!

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    12. 23:11, your point?😆

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    13. Poor Dale Winton died today RIP.

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    14. Are you pitching the idea of a new boy band for the over 80s?

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    15. Three of a kind, right enough.

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    16. 23:47, yes, may God give eternal ease to him.

      I sm so very sorry.

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  11. I think it's time for some light relief, +Pat. A good Gaynooth scandal wouldn't come amiss.

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  12. +Pat, it's obvious from recent comments, your followers are gasping for some sort of gay scandal soon. It's over to you.

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  13. Come on Pat give us some juicy gossip

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  14. 21:57, 22:55, 23:10

    All likely to be the same person who thrives on scandal, gossip and innuendo

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