Jury delivers unanimous verdicts of not guilty in Belfast rugby trail

26 year old Ireland and Ulster rugby player Paddy Jackson was been found not guilty of rape and sexual assault, after a lengthy trial at Belfast Crown Court.

The jury were sent out by Judge Patricia Smyth on Tuesday morning, and returned to give their verdict this afternoon.

According to the Irish Mirror, the foreman answered "yes" when asked by a court clerk if the 11-member panel had reached a verdict on which they were all agreed.

A short time ago, the eight men and three woman filed into the seats they have occupied for 41 days as they carried out the duties of their oath.

Over the course of nine weeks, they had heard testimony from the four friends on trail - Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison - and from 25 separate interview sessions that lasted a total of 17 hours and 34 minutes between June and October 2016. They also heard from the 21-year-old complainant, who answered question in the witness box for over eight days. On top of this, they heard from medical experts and character witnesses, as well the summations of the five barristers.

In total 31 people gave evidence over the 40 days before the jury were charged.

Rosanna Cooney of Joe.ie and Frank Greaney of Newstalk have documented the trail extensively over the past few weeks.

The jury in the jackson olding McIIroy and Harrison trial has returned a unanimous verdict on all 6 counts

After 3 hours and 45 minutes of deliberations this is it.

Jackson:
Rape: NOT GUILTY
Sexual Assault:NOT GUILTY

Olding:
Oral Rape:NOT GUILTY

— Rosanna Cooney (@RosannaCooney) March 28, 2018

The jurors in Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding's rape trial have returned to COURT 12 on the fourth floor of Laganside Courts. They will soon begin their second day of deliberations.

— Frank Greaney (@FrankGreaney) March 28, 2018