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09/04/2018
Petition Calls For Paddy Jackson And Stuart Olding To Be Reinstated
An online petition has been launched calling for Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding to be reinstated at Ulster Rugby.
Jackson and Olding were acquitted of rape last month following a nine-week trial. Both men remain suspended from playing rugby while both the IRFU and Ulster Rugby conduct their own reviews.
The Change.org petition states: "Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were found not guilty of rape and therefore should be reinstated to the Ulster Rugby squad as soon as possible as they have already been forced through a very public trial and been suspended from playing throughout this trial.
"This is punishment enough and Ulster Rugby should be showing support to their players who were found not guilty."
The petition, which is reaching 7,000 signatures of a stated goal of 7,500, continues: "If Ulster Rugby need to enforce to these players how behaviour in their private lives may affect their career as rugby players then this should be stated clearly to the players as a warning not to repeat such behaviour again as it will carry consequences for themselves and others such as what they have gone through.
"However, these players have not broken any sporting rules and therefore, need to be back playing in Ulster shirts as soon as possible. The same applies for Craig Gilroy. Those who have signed this petition want Ulster Rugby to do the right thing and support their players by getting them playing rugby for Ulster again."
People supporting the petition have given various reasons for doing so, including:
"These gentlemen have been proven to be innocent and are now being harangued by a very vocal minority of folk who have no respect for the rule of law."
"Im signing because they are not guilty and should be back playing for Ulster
SUFTUM"
(MH/LM)
Jackson and Olding were acquitted of rape last month following a nine-week trial. Both men remain suspended from playing rugby while both the IRFU and Ulster Rugby conduct their own reviews.
The Change.org petition states: "Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were found not guilty of rape and therefore should be reinstated to the Ulster Rugby squad as soon as possible as they have already been forced through a very public trial and been suspended from playing throughout this trial.
"This is punishment enough and Ulster Rugby should be showing support to their players who were found not guilty."
The petition, which is reaching 7,000 signatures of a stated goal of 7,500, continues: "If Ulster Rugby need to enforce to these players how behaviour in their private lives may affect their career as rugby players then this should be stated clearly to the players as a warning not to repeat such behaviour again as it will carry consequences for themselves and others such as what they have gone through.
"However, these players have not broken any sporting rules and therefore, need to be back playing in Ulster shirts as soon as possible. The same applies for Craig Gilroy. Those who have signed this petition want Ulster Rugby to do the right thing and support their players by getting them playing rugby for Ulster again."
People supporting the petition have given various reasons for doing so, including:
"These gentlemen have been proven to be innocent and are now being harangued by a very vocal minority of folk who have no respect for the rule of law."
"Im signing because they are not guilty and should be back playing for Ulster
SUFTUM"
(MH/LM)
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