Ulster Rugby sponsors Bank of Ireland admit their ‘concerns’ over fallout from Belfast rape trial

The bank have sponsored Ulster Rugby for the last 20 years.

Bank of Ireland have expressed serious concerns over the behaviour of a number of Ulster rugby players caught up in the recent 'rape trial' in Belfast. The Times, Ireland edition reports that the bank is reviewing its sponsorship deal with the province and has expressed its concerns over the "serious behaviour and conduct issues" surrounding Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding and Craig Gilroy. Jackson and Olding - who were recently found 'not guilty' of the rape and sexual assault of a 19-year-old at a house party in Belfast in 2016 - are currently suspended by Ulster Rugby, following both the trial and the revealing of WhatsApp and text messages surrounding the events of the night of 28 June, 2016.

Gilroy, meanwhile, was recently forced to apologise for a WhatsApp message he sent in the wake of the party.

Bank of Ireland have reportedly made their concerns known to Ulster Rugby CEO Shane Logan, and its stance is that the joint Ulster Rugby/IRFU review will be "robust (and) fully address the issues raised, and that decisions will be taken – and policies and protocols be put in place – that fully address the issues that have arisen."

A petition to get Jackson and Olding reinstated to the Ulster and Ireland panels currently has almost 16,000 signatures.

Meanwhile, an application to cover Paddy Jackson's legal fees is due to be heard in Belfast Crown Court next month, it emerged on Thursday.

It is understood that Jackson privately funded his defence and his legal bill amounted to over £100,000 which he had already settled.

However, he is seeking to retrieve this money and has made an application in an attempt to have these costs covered by the Public Prosecution Service.

A hearing in a bid to cover the legal costs has been scheduled to take in Belfast at 2pm on Friday, 18 May.

Co-accused Stuart Olding had been covering his own legal costs at the start of the trial. However, halfway through the trial his barrister asked that he be granted Legal Aid for the remainder of the hearing, as he no longer has sufficient funds to cover the costs.

After she asked to be provided with evidence of this - such as bank statements - Judge Patricia Smyth granted Legal Aid for Olding.

Additional reporting by M&M News Services