A close friend of Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding has been accused of inventing a "preposterous" version of events after the men were arrested for rape.

Blane McIlroy told Belfast Crown Court today that the alleged victim willingly performed sex acts on him while she lay in bed with Mr Jackson.

However, prosecution barrister Toby Hedworth said these claims were "preposterous" and "complete fantasy island".

The 26-year-old, of Royal Lodge Road, Belfast, who is charged with one count of exposure, was giving evidence in his own defence at the trial.

He is on trial alongside Mr Jackson, from Oakleigh Park in Belfast, and Mr Olding, from Ardenlee Street in the city, who both deny raping the same woman following a night out in Belfast on 28 June 2016.

Another friend, Rory Harrison, 25, of Manse Road, Belfast, is charged with perverting the course of justice and withholding information.

Mr Hedworth told the court that after the alleged attack, all of the accused together concocted a story for police but that Mr McIlroy "delivered the wrong lines" and gave them Mr Olding's version of events as his own.

Mr McIlroy claimed that he walked into Mr Jackson's bedroom during a house party and found him and the alleged victim naked in bed together.

He said he went into the room and that he and the woman started kissing and she then performed sex acts on him.

Mr Hedworth told the court that Mr McIlroy had exposed himself to the woman but there had not been any sexual activity between them.

He asked Mr McIlroy: "Do you have any idea how preposterous your account of all this is?"

Mr Hedworth added: "Has the penny not dropped? Even your own friends are suggesting you have the story wrong."

Mr McIlroy replied: "No, I've told the truth from the word go."

He denied his version of events was "fantasy".

"Can I make it clear this is complete fantasy island on your behalf, isn't it?" Mr Hedworth asked him.

"No it's not," Mr McIlroy responded.

Mr Hedworth put to him: "This is you attempting to give a version to police after your friends have been arrested in respect of a serious sexual offence and you then find yourself arrested.

"You give what you think is meant to be your version of events."

He added: "Instead, you gave Stuart Olding's version of events."

Mr Olding previously told the court that he had walked in on Mr Jackson and the woman and that she had performed a sex act on him.

"You never engaged in sexual activity. There never was sexual activity involving you but you thought your job was to give this version which was hatched up," Mr Hedworth put to Mr McIlroy.

The barrister continued: "You have delivered the wrong lines. You have put yourself there rather than Stuart Olding. "

Mr McIlroy responded: "No I told the police everything. The truth."

The trial is due to continue in the morning.