THE WOMAN who has accused two Ulster and Ireland rugby players of raping her was cross-examined in a Belfast Crown Court today.
Both Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding deny raping the woman, who was then 19, at a house in south Belfast in June 2016.
The barrister for Paddy Jackson put it to the 21-year-old that a fear that what occurred had been filmed led her to misrepresent the truth.
Brendan Kelly QC suggested to the woman that she had been in an “intoxicated and excited” state.
“You, that night, did engage of your own choice in sexual activity?”, he said.
The woman replied: “I completely reject that.”
When he put it to her that she may have been involved in group sex, she said: “Against my will. I was raped. I don’t think I can make myself much clearer.”
Mr Kelly also asked her whether she had become willingly involved in something that she later regretted.
She replied: "I had no choice in the matter."
Mr Kelly later said to her: "You were petrified that either the rumour or the proof of this sexual activity would find its way to your friends. That's what drove you on as far as running with this lie."
The woman replied: "This is not a lie, Mr Kelly."
Also in court today, the jury was shown the trousers, top and underwear that the woman was wearing on the night of the alleged attack.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been set up to send yellow flowers in solidarity to the young woman at the centre of the trial.
The page claims that “the perpetrators (and their apparent supporters) are members of the Irish and Ulster rugby teams. Golden boys. National treasures. Institutional support from all angles.”
The trial continues.
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