Irish rape trial underwear
photo: Twitter/ibelieveher_ire

At a rape trial last week in County Cork, Ireland, the defendant's lawyer did something that outraged Irish women. And they have since responded with force. 

According to the Irish Examiner, the lawyer, Elizabeth O'Connell, held up the accuser's underwear in court and said, "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."

O'Connell's victim-blaming struck a chord with women. Many quickly took to social media to share photos of their own underwear in solidarity, and to prove an important point about consent.

Last week in Ireland, a man was acquitted of raping a 17-year-old girl. According to the Irish Examiner, his defense attorney had shown the girl's underwear in court, arguing that she had consented to sex because it was "a thong with a lace front."

On Wednesday, women gathered at demonstrations throughout Ireland to protest how the case was handled.

According to local reporters on the ground, the protests brought out hundreds of supporters.

Many created signs and posters explaining that clothing does not equal consent.

An online campaign, #ThisIsNotConsent, quickly emerged. 

It was started by the group I Believe Her. Women began sharing photos of their own underwear to make the point that no piece of clothing amounts to giving consent. 

One person wrote that they "can’t believe this girl was subjected to these comments after such a traumatic event."

Another joked about wanting advice on which one is "less rapey." 

Someone put it simply: "Just because my panties are cute doesn't mean I'm saying yes."

When it all comes down to it, no means no. 

Underwear literally has nothing to do with whether someone is giving consent. 

People had some choice words for the defense attorney, Elizabeth O'Connell.

Generally, everyone was embarrassed that O'Connell could've done something so horrific. 

A major moment of solidarity came when Irish politician Ruth Coppinger held up a pair of underwear in the chamber of the Dáil (the Irish version of the House of Representatives). She definitely made a statement.