A 27-year-old man was found unanimously not guilty for the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Ireland. What came as a startling shock to the public was what many advocates considered victim-blaming presented by the defense. Elizabeth O’Connell, representing the accused, suggested to the jury that the girl’s underwear should be considered when trying to understand the man’s actions, according to The Independent.
The Irish Times reports that O’Connell argued, “Does the evidence out rule the possibility that she was attracted to the defendant and was open to meeting someone and being with someone? You have to look at the way she was dressed. She was wearing a thong with a lace front.”
This apparent use of victim blaming has sparked an uproar on social media, with the use of #ThisIsNotConsent attached to photos of underwear.
Counsel for man acquitted of rape suggested jurors should reflect on underwear worn by the 17yo complainant. Following this wholly unacceptable comment, we are calling on our followers to post a picture of their thongs/knickers to support her with the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/ZkVU0GVAIN
— I Believe Her – Ireland (@ibelieveher_ire) November 10, 2018
Jurors in Cork were asked to consider the underwear a SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL was wearing when she was raped by a 27-year-old man.
Join the cause in solidarity, can’t believe this girl was subjected to these comments after such a traumatic event.#ThisIsNotConsent #Ibelieveher pic.twitter.com/PfkYERulgY
— Courtney Peterson (@_courtneymaria) November 13, 2018
Irish politician, Ruth Coppinger showed a pair of underwear in the chamber — to force members to acknowledge the absurdity of this form of evidence.
WATCH: TD @RuthCoppingerTD held up a thong in the Dáil earlier protesting the use of the same tactics in a courtroom during a rape case in Cork pic.twitter.com/bfGAegWpkO
— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) November 13, 2018
The cameras cut out this incident, but she did not hesitate to display that same pair of laced underwear on Twitter with a clear message: #ThisIsNotConsent.
I hear cameras cut away from me when I displayed this underwear in #Dáil. In courts victims can have their underwear passed around as evidence and it’s within the rules, hence need to display in Dáil. Join protests tomorrow. In Dublin it’s at Spire, 1pm.#dubw #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/DvtaJL61qR
— Ruth Coppinger TD (@RuthCoppingerTD) November 13, 2018
ROSA (Reproductive rights, against Oppression, Sexism and Austerity) Socialist Feminist Movement has decided to hold a protest against victim blaming in Cork on Wednesday to show their forceful opposition to using what women wear, drink or say against them as victims/survivors of sexual assault.