
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in protest after two international rugby players were cleared of rape.

Irish sportsmen Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were acquitted by a jury of eight men and three women on Wednesday following a nine-week trial at Belfast Crown Court.

They were accused of sexually assaulting a woman when they went back to Jackson's flat after a night out in the capital city.

The court heard the pair were in a WhatsApp group which discussed having a 'spit roast' and said sex with the woman was 'like a merry-go-round'.

But just hours after they were cleared, in response to the wider issues raised by the case and in support of the woman and others in a similar position, thousands of people tweeted #IBelieveHer.

The hashtag was trending in the UK, Ireland and worldwide and on Thursday a rally outside the Laganside courthouse took place along with others in Derry, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Dublin. Tonight a much smaller group of protesters have gathered in Marble Arch in London.

'I'm a woman not a merry-go-round': Protesters Jessica O'Brien (left) and Merryn Sadlier with their homemade placards at the demonstration in Dublin on Thursday afternoon

One #IBelieveHer campaigner Tara Fitzgerald attended the protest in Dublin, Ireland, on Thursday

Solidarity: Karen Kelly and her brother from Conor traveled from Cabra West on the outskirts of Dublin to take part in the demonstration

Pictured: Sisters Ava Gale Murphy and Moya Gale Murphy (right) at the protest

'We believe': A smaller group of protesters gather at Marble Arch in London tonight

A section of the crowd at the #IBelieveHer solidarity demonstration at The Spire in Dublin

Hundreds of #IBelieveHer campaigners gathered on O'Connell Street in Dublin on Thursday afternoon after two rugby stars were cleared of rape

Thousands of women joined a protest in Dublin, Ireland, on Thursday afternoon one day after two rugby stars were cleared of rape

A rally has been held in Belfast this lunchtime following the rape verdict of the Ulster Rugby players at Laganside court

#IBelieveHer campaigners protested in Dublin, Ireland, to show support of women taking allegations before the courts and this woman herself

Hundreds of protesters arrived in Limerick on Thursday afternoon to join the #IBelieveHer campaign

What Olding and Jackson were alleged to have said on Whatsapp Whatsapp messages allegedly sent by Stuart Olding and Paddy Jackson were read to Belfast Crown Court, during evidence presented by the prosecution. In one, Olding was said to have written: 'We are all top sh*gg*rs', before adding: 'It was like a merry-go-around at a carnival.' The court heard he also wrote: 'There was a bit of spit roasting going on last night fellas.' It is alleged that Jackson replied on the same WhatsApp messaging service: 'There was a lot of spit.' The alleged conversation in full: 'How was she?' 'She was very, very loose' 'Any ***** get ******?' 'There was a lot of spit roast last night' 'There was a lot of spit' 'It was like a merry go round at the carnival' 'We are all top shaggers' 'Love Belfast *****' 'Boys, did you pass spit roast brassers' 'What the fuck was going on. Last night was hilarious.' 'Why are we such legends?' 'I know it's ridiculous' 'Mate no jokes she was in hysterics, wasn't going to end well' 'Really, **** sake, did you calm her? Where does she live?' 'Aye, just threw her home then went back to mine' Advertisement

Both Jackson, 26, and Olding, 25, were cleared alongside their friend Rory Harrison, 25 - who denied perverting the course of justice and withholding information.

Another friend Blane McIlroy, 26, was accused of one count of exposure but the four defendants were cleared of all charges relating to the alleged incident in June 2016.

The Belfast rally was organised by Reclaim the Night Belfast, which is a group which is campaigning against harassment and gender-based violence.

On Facebook, the group wrote: 'The feminist movement is calling a rally in response to the impact of the recent rape trial in Belfast.

'There is a lot of anger and upset among women who have observed the treatment of the [woman] in this case and found it harrowing and re-traumatising.'

On Twitter Humans actress Gemma Khan voiced her support for the complainant.

She wrote: '(I) can't stop thinking about the poor young woman in the Belfast case. I hope she knows how many of us support her and believe her. The legal system is stacked against victims. Rape culture is real. Education about consent has never been more needed.'

Many used their messages to support the woman who gave evidence throughout the trial, which was described by the judge as 'probably the most difficult trial any jury in Northern Ireland has been asked to adjudicate on'.

After the case yesterday, Jackson - who was also cleared of a separate charge of sexual assault - said: 'I'd just like to thank the judge and the jury for giving me a fair trial, my parents for being here every day, as well as my brother and sisters.

'Out of respect for my employers I've nothing further to comment.'

Meanwhile, Olding's solicitor Paul Dougan, read out a statement on behalf of the rugby player.

He said: 'I want to acknowledge publicly that though I committed no criminal offence on the evening of June 28, 2016, I regret deeply the events of that evening.

'I want to acknowledge that the complainant came to court and gave evidence about her perception of those events.

'I am sorry for the hurt that was caused to the complainant. It was never my intention to cause any upset to anyone on that night.

'I don't agree with her perception of events, and I maintain that everything that happened that evening was consensual.'

'We believe her': Riana Lynch from Donegal (left) and Saoirse Real (right) in Dublin sharing their views at a protest in Limerick

'Rape is caused by rapists': Four more supporters holding homemade signs in support of the complainant

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Laganside court after the #IBelieveHer hashtag trended on Twitter

Two sisters, Rebecca and Annie Philips attended the #IBelieveHer protest in Limerick, Ireland

Rugby players 'prey on women like pieces of meat': Olympic champion Greg Rutherford's girlfriend describes feeling 'violated' in club encounters with sportsmen after Irish stars are cleared of rape The girlfriend of British Olympic gold medallist Greg Rutherford has slammed the 'gargantuan egos' of rugby players after two Irish stars were cleared of rape. Susie Verrill, who last year revealed she had slept with two former England rugby internationals, said she has seen players 'prey on women like meat' at social events. Her comments, which were not directed at any individuals, come after Irish internationals Paddy Jackson, 26, and Stuart Olding, 25, were cleared of rape yesterday following a nine-week trial at Belfast Crown Court. Pictured: Olympic long jumper Greg Rutherford with his long-term girlfriend Susie Verrill They were accused of sexually assaulting the same woman when they went back to Jackson's flat after a night out in Belfast. Olympic long jumper Greg Rutherford's long-term girlfriend Susie Verrill has tweeted after the two Irish rugby stars were cleared of rape. Susie Verrill took to Twitter after the rugby stars were cleared and said that some players have 'gargantuan egos' After they were cleared, the hashtag #IBelieveHer - in support of women taking allegations before the courts and this woman herself - was trending worldwide. And now Ms Verrill has weighed into the argument by saying that she has felt 'violated' when leaving some bars. Olympic long jumper Greg Rutherford's long-term girlfriend Susie Verrill has tweeted after the two Irish rugby stars were cleared of rape RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next Pictured: Jeweller in court over £25m Hatton Garden gem raid... Daredevils who risked their lives scaling the 500ft-high... Share this article Share After they were cleared, the hashtag #IBelieveHer - in support of women taking allegations before the courts and this woman herself - was trending worldwide. Miss Verrill added her take She wrote on Twitter: 'I've experienced first hand, the pack mentality & gargantuan egos linked to rugby players She wrote on Twitter: 'I've experienced first hand, the pack mentality & gargantuan egos linked to rugby players. 'I used to like a rugby player, let's get that straight. It took very little time to realise what a whole host of them are about. And it ain't good. 'Thankfully I was never in a position where I went home with anyone & felt the need to report it the next day. 'But I have left bars feeling violated by behaviour conducted in front of others and unable to do much about it. 'I've seen other players at events, watch them prey on women like meat. Seen conversations they've had between one another. It's just so inappropriate teenage boy.' Last year, Ms Verrill - who has two children with the Olympic long jumper, 31 - said that the pair are not going to tie the knot because they do not want 'a lifetime of misery and 'a lifetime of misery and s*** sex'. Advertisement

A series of protests were held today across Ireland including one outside Belfast Crown Court

Paddy Jackson, 26, (left) and Stuart Olding, 25, (right) were accused of raping the woman at a party back at Jackson's home and were both cleared yesterday

Jackson, who played 25 times for Ireland, was photographed leaving Belfast Crown Court after being cleared of rape

Ireland and Ulster rugby player Paddy Jackson (centre) arrived with family members at Belfast Crown Court before he was cleared

Rory Harrison, 25, (left, pictured today) and Blane McIlory (right, pictured today) were also cleared

Jackson and the woman had been in Ollie's nightclub in Belfast (pictured) on the night of the alleged incident

Jackson (pictured playing for Ireland) has not played at club or national level since he was charged in July last year

The court had previously heard how the rugby players were accused of boasting with their friends about a 'spit roasting' on a WhatsApp group.

The jury was told that Olding allegedly wrote 'we are all top sh****rs, before adding: 'It was like a merry-go-around at a carnival.'

He also wrote: 'There was a bit of spit roasting going on last night fellas,' the court heard.

It is also alleged that Jackson replied on the same WhatsApp messaging service: 'There was a lot of spit.'

In another message also read out, McIlroy boasted: 'Pumped a bird with Jacko on Monday, roasted her, then another on Tuesday night.'

A review by the Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Rugby is now underway following the verdict.