Consider the facts.
A young woman claims she has been raped, and a jury finds her case proven, and the defendant guilty.
The defence argued firstly that the sex was consensual, as both participants were drunk, and then that the alleged victim, as she had no true recollection of the events, had not suffered. The accused still claims innocence, and refuses to apologise, even after he is released from prison after serving half his sentence.
The problem is compounded by the fact that the accused is a very well-known and prominent footballer; he claims that, even though he has always stated his innocence, he has done his time, and should be allowed to go on with his life.
His life seems to still revolve around football, and his club, Sheffield United, are allowing him to train with the club, but have not yet signed a contract.
Because of the Club’s stance in even considering allowing the rapist’s return, high-profile patrons of the club, such as Jessica Ennis-Hill of Olympic fame has asked that, if the rapist returns to the club, her name should be removed from the stand. Others have followed Jessica’s stance.
The Professional Footballers Association of Ireland have defended the club for their forgiving attitude, and further stated “There was no violence and thankfully the victim has no recollection of it. This, I hasten to add, does not make it right, or anything close to it, but it is nonetheless a mitigating factor.”
So, should Jessica speak up or shut up; and should this fine, upstanding role-model go back to the pitch, and his extremely-large pay-packet, and bye-gones should be bye-gones; or should he be banned from all football, for life, for this crime of violence against an unresisting young woman?
Fire, Pillage & Plague 