Footballer apologises for rape trial tweet

Drogheda United soccer player Luke Rossiter has said he “doesn’t really know” why he tweeted that he was “delighted for Paddy Jackson” and why he criticised the complainant following last week’s Belfast rape trial verdict.

“It was a stupid and immature thing to do,” he wrote in a statement on the club website yesterday. “It is clear I still have some growing up to do in relation to how I conduct myself off the pitch as well as on it.”

He said that if the club and fans can forgive him, he wants to “start that growing” by donating any money he receives from Drogheda United for the remainder of the season to the Rape Crisis North East in Dundalk.