The Ireland captain has finally spoken out.
Less than an hour after Ireland defeated France in Paris, Rory Best finally addressed the matter of his appearance at the court trial, in Belfast, of Ulster teammates Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.
There had been quite a stir, midweek, after Best, Iain Henderson and Craig Gilroy attended the rape trial. Up until this point, the IRFU had no comment to make on the matter.
After Ireland’s 15-13 win, in response to a question from Gerry Thornley of The Irish Times, Best said he had been on a day off from Ireland duty. He commented:
“Technically we don’t need permission… It was on the record that I was on the list as a character witness and it was advised that it would be important if I got both sides of the story so that I can make an informed decision about that.
“Obviously, as it is a legal matter, I will not be making any further comment on the matter, other than that .”
The statement is an advancement on the union, Joe Schmidt and Ireland’s players offering ‘no comment’ on the case and the attendance of the Ulster stars at the trial.
Irish player Paddy Jackson, 26, of Oakleigh Park, Belfast is charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. Stuart Olding, 24 and also an Irish international, of Ardenlee Street, Belfast, is charged with one count of rape.
Meanwhile, Blane McIlroy, 26, of Royal Lodge Road, Ballydollaghan, Belfast, is accused of one count of exposure.
Rory Harrison, 25, from Manse Road, Belfast, is charged with perverting the course of justice and withholding information.
They all deny the charges.
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