THE WOMAN who has accused two Ireland rugby players of raping her has been accused of creating a story to serve her case.
Under cross-examination at Belfast Crown Court today, the woman was questioned by Arthur Harvey QC, a barrister for Blane McIlroy, who is accused of exposure.
“You have a capacity to start off with a basic fact such as ‘I was in the taxi’ to create a narrative which you believe personally serves the case that you are seeking to make?,” he said.
The lawyer also suggested that the alleged victim's memory of events was fractured, frayed and ragged, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
She agreed that parts of her memory were "fractured", maybe due to the influence of alcohol, stating: "Yes there are moments of the night that are fractured."
But she then added: "There were very clear, precise moments that I can remember."
The woman was 19 at the time of the alleged attack in June 2016. She is now 21.
Today is the seventh day on which she has given evidence - the trial began on January 30.
Mr Jackson, 26, and his team-mate Stuart Olding, 24, are both standing trial at Belfast Crown Court, accused of raping the woman at the same time following a night out in the city in June 2016.
Both men have denied the charge.
Mr Jackson has also been charged with, and denies, a further charge of sexual assault.
Blane McIlroy, 26, from Royal Lodge Road in Belfast, has been charged with exposing his genitals, while Rory Harrison, 25, from Manse Road, is facing charges of perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
Both men deny the charges.
The 12-person jury have been told by Judge Patricia Smyth to wait until they hear all of the evidence in the case before coming to any final conclusions.
The case continues.
