Im glad we agree on the key points mate. I find the IRFUâs line to be abhorrent on this.
More like intimidation than bravery.
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She was behind a screen, unless all the court reporters are lying. Unless the two boys were roaring âStand up for the Ulstermenâ itâs unlikely she knew they were there.
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I heard they roared âgo up and give her another slap of the mickey, Paddyâ, so donât rule it out.
Best, like any private citizen, is free to attend court and provide a character reference if he so wishes.
The issue is, though, he isnât just a private citizen. Heâs the Ulster and Ireland rugby captain. At its very best itâs the appalling timing and crass insensitivity shown. He rocks up a day after the court had heard evidence that the complainant was initially reluctant to come forward as she feared sheâd have to face the might of Ulster rugby. Then as she is on the stand, facing a dreadful ordeal irrespective of the verdict, the most powerful member of Ulster rugby appears in support of two of the accused. It absolutely stinks. Time and a place. Not three days before an international match.
Only the people who were in the room that night know what went on. If they didnât do it - and I hope to God for the sake of this lady they didnât - I hope they are found not guilty.
Guilty or not their behaviour that night was vile and to have an influential figure like Best show up in what could be construed as an intimidatory act is just atrocious.
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What?
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Bizarre post
I canât get my head around it. How does it help the lady if they are proven innocent?
Intimadory tactic?
The case is being heard before the courts for fuck sake.
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Is Best providing a character reference?
Unlike Humphries and Halvey there is still some question mark as to the defendants guilt in this case.
I donât see much of an issue in Best attending the trial but I am not sure why he did so either.
It means she wasnât raped mate, the judgement of the court has nothing to do with it, whether or not sheâs a drama queen or whatever she wonât have deserved that
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I am absolutely certain that rory best didnât drag himself out of bed, and think to himself, right im off to intimidate an alleged gang rape victim.
Like I said , I would call his judgement into question, but he now has the majority of the country ready to throw him to the dogs. He knew this would happen. He went anyway. Perhaps he did indeed want to hear testimony for himself before framing his character witness statement (observe the abuse donal og took on here for a misjudged statement), in any case,@rocko, call it what you want. Cowardly it certainly was not. Some are letting bigotry cloud their judgement here imo.
Iâm not saying he was right, or wrong, but at best, he is being either a support to a friend he is convinced is innocent, or, he is taking his responsibility as a character witness seriously.
Even more bizarre
Itâs nothing to do with bigotry. Some of us are capable of forming opinions on serious matters irrespective of someoneâs religion or chosen sport or whatever other stick is being used to deflect from his actions.
It sends out the wrong message completely to rape victims around the country. It would be much braver to be a friend in private but to confront the reality facing that girl and understand that it is unnecessary and inappropriate to show up in court in support of the character of her alleged attackers.
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I advent read dodgys post, I rarely do if theyâre longer than a sentence, but the quote you provided Just suggests that he hopes that the girl wasnt raped, whatâs bizarre is that you have issue with it
Inappropriate I would probably agree.
Cowardly it wasnât.
On a separate note, this case is very instructive in revealing some very unsavory aspects of Irish society.
I was in the toilets yesterday in Leopardstown after the rugby match on TV and there was a group of 4 or 5 lads in there singing Paddy Jacksonâs name joyously among themselves which was met with widespread giggling by an array of men of various ages who seemed to find this funny. Thereâs a large cohort of the country who seem to believe this was some sort of high jinx and is a subject for light merriment like the Ballyragget stuff.
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