THE IRISH rugby players on trial accused of rape boasted about sex on WhatsApp, a court has heard.
Paddy Jackson, 26, and Stuart Olding, 24, are accused of raping the same then 19-year-old woman at Jackson's residence in south Belfast in June 2016.
Mr Jackson, of Oakleigh Park in Belfast is charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Mr Olding from Ardenlee Street, Belfast, is charged with one count of rape.
Blaine McIlroy, 26, from Royal Lodge Road, Ballydollaghan, Belfast, is accused of one count of exposure, and Rory Harrison, 25, from Manse Road, Belfast, is charged with perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
Paddy Jackson, centre, arrives at court in Belfast on January 30, 2018 accused of raping a woman. (Picture: PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images)The four defendants appeared in the dock together.
All deny the charges against them.
The jury of nine men and three women were told on Tuesday at Belfast's Laganside Court that Mr Jackson and Mr Olding engaged in non-consensual sex with the now 21-year-old alleged victim at Jackson's home in June 2016.
Prosecuting, Toby Hedworth, QC, said on the evening of Monday, June 27 the alleged victim and a friend met a small group of women they knew at a Belfast nightclub who were going back to a party with the rugby players.
Stuart Olding arrives at court in Belfast on January 30, 2018 accused of raping a woman. (Picture: PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images)She joined them although it was unclear who actually invited her, and the group travelled in two taxis.
According to The Irish Times, Mr Hedworth said that in Jackson’s house the pair of them went to his bedroom where they engaged in consensual kissing, but the alleged victim made it clear that it 'would go no further.'
She decided to leave the party but went back to Mr Jackson’s bedroom to retrieve her hand bag.
According to Mr Hedworth, Mr Jackson followed her to his room “where he pushed her onto the bed before pulling her trousers and pants down," and penetrating her from behind.
Blane McIlroy arrives at Belfast Laganside courts accused of one count of indecent exposure relating to the case. (Picture: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)“He had not in any way sought her consent and indeed had used force to achieve his aim,” said Mr Hedworth.
He added that she did 'not suggest that she attempted to fight him off' but that she described herself as "being numb throughout what happened as if she herself was not there."
She was then conscious of Mr Olding entering the room. She recalled saying to Mr Jackson, “Please, not him as well.”
Mr Hedworth said as Mr Jackson continued to have sex with her from behind, Olding forced her to perform oral sex on him.
She said she was "choking and gagging."
He said that at this stage one of the other women in the house looked into the room. The complainant said that Mr Jackson asked her did she want to "join in."
When that woman left the complainant said that Jackson penetrated her vagina digitally from behind "before trying to force his fist up her."
“This obviously caused her considerable pain,” said Mr Hedworth.
He added that Mr McIlroy, a friend of the players, entered the room naked, "thrust his penis at her" but did not make contact, and sought to have sex with her.
The complainant said that Mr McIlroy said to her, "You f**ked those guys, why not me?" to which she replied, "How many times does it take for a girl to say no before it sinks in."
Rory Harrison is accused of perverting the course of justice and withholding information relating to the case. (Picture: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)The alleged victim said she could “not face the prospect of a further attack and quickly pulled her trousers on and picked up her pants and shoes and left the room”.
She left the house but realised she had left her mobile phone behind. She needed it to call a taxi. She ran back to the house and retrieved the phone from the then empty bedroom.
Mr Hedworth continued: “Effectively this group of friends were keen to have sexual activity with this young woman regardless of whether or not she was prepared to do."
He added that when the woman "was able to escape from what was being done to her" that the fourth defendant Rory Harrison appeared to give her help and support but that "his true loyalty was to his friends and what they had done."
The court also heard of an exchange of WhatsApp messages between the accused which Mr Hedworth said gave a "true flavour of the attitude of the defendants."
In one text Olding said, “We are all top shaggers”, while in another he said, "There was a bit of spit roasting going on last night fellas."
Mr Jackson replied: "There was a lot of spit," with Mr Olding responding, "It was like a merry-go-round at a carnival."
Mr Hedworth said Mr Jackson who denies the allegations told police that the sexual activity was consensual.
He said the complainant had consensual oral sex with him and also with Mr Olding.
He said they did not have vaginal sex because "she asked if he had a condom and he did not."
The trial, which is expected to last five weeks in Belfast, continues.
