Rugby Rape trial: Timeline of events

BBC Court sketch of (L-R) Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Rory Harrison, Blane McIlroy, Rory HarrisonBBC
Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison denied all charges against them

The case against Ireland and Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding has reached its conclusion after nine weeks.

Timeline of events

Presentational grey line

Monday 27 June, 2016

16:30 BST - Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison meet up at Blane McIlroy's house in south Belfast to watch football.

Ollie's nightclub
The men went to the VIP area in Ollie's nightclub in Belfast city centre

19:00 BST - They go to Cutter's Wharf pub

23:00 BST - They go to VIP area in Ollie's nightclub in the city centre. The Northern Ireland football team is also there.

Tuesday 28 June, 2016

02:30 BST - they go back to Paddy Jackson's house in two taxis with four young women, including the 19-year-old woman at the centre of the case.

03:04 BST - the woman texts a friend. It reads: "Am back at Paddy Jackson's."

04:27 BST - Inside the house, Blane McIlroy texts Paddy Jackson. It reads: "Is there a possibility of a threesome?"

05:00 BST - The woman shares a taxi home with Rory Harrison. She is upset.

09:51 BST - The woman at the centre of the case texts a friend "worse night ever, so I got raped."

PA/Press Eye Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding have both been capped for IrelandPA/Press Eye
Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding have both been capped for Ireland

10:08 BST - She texts another friend saying she'd been raped by "Ulster rugby scum."

12:04 BST - Rory Harrison texts her. It reads: "Feeling better today?"

13:10 BST - She texts back: "I know you must be mates with those guys, but I didn't like them. And what happened was not consensual which is why I was so upset".

14:00 BST - She goes to the Brook Clinic, a sexual health centre in Belfast

19:00 BST - She goes to The Rowan, Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Antrim

Wednesday 29 June

09:47 BST - She contacts the police for the first time, by ringing 101

Thursday 30 June

10:45 BST - Police conduct first detailed interview with woman

Afternoon - Police contact Ulster rugby. Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding told to go to Musgrave police station where they are arrested. Police take a witness statement from Rory Harrison.

Evening - Blane McIlroy arrested.

Friday 1 July

Police took witness statements from Dara Florence
Police took statements from Dara Florence, who appeared in the witness box during the trial

Police take a witness statement from Dara Florence, a woman who briefly went into Paddy Jackson's bedroom on the night in question.

She said she did not think it looked like a rape.

Tuesday 4 October

Police interview Rory Harrison as a suspect not a witness. Police re-interview Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.

Tuesday 25 July, 2017

The Public Prosecution Service says there is "sufficient evidence to prosecute four individuals".

Wednesday 15 November

Paddy Jackson appears in court and pleads "not guilty" to charges of rape and sexual assault.

Blane McIlroy denies a charge of exposure. Rory Harrison denies withholding information and perverting the course of justice.

Pacemaker Rory Harrison and Blane McIlroyPacemaker
Rory Harrison and Blane McIlroy also denied the charges against them

Friday 17 November

Stuart Olding appears in court. He pleads "not guilty" to two charges of rape.

Friday 22 December

One of the rape charges against Stuart Olding is dropped.

Monday 29 January, 2018

The trial begins.

Wednesday 28 March, 2018

All four defendants are found not guilty of all the charges against them.