Wed, 27 Apr 2005
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BDSMCheshire/
RAPE ALLEGATIONS AT MERCY - OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Official statement from the Mercy club Organisers:
During the last Mercy we had a problem with a first time visitor not
following the rules of the club. Primarily, interfering with other
people's scenes, disrupting play, asking women to do various things
to him, his inability to adhere to dungeon and play etiquette, his
selective deafness when told by the DM's to abide by the rules and
to stop harassing people.
The DM's informed him that his behaviour was not acceptable, yet he
continued to harass and invade people's space. Finally one of the
club organisers intervened and told the man that his behaviour was
not acceptable and that he must adhere to the club policy and rules.
His retort was that he'd been in the scene for over 40 years and
then he stated that there was non-consensual play going on in the
shibari room.
When asked to elaborate on this statement he refused and left.
Mike went up to the shibari room and at the first available
opportunity asked the DM in charge of the room if there had been any
problems during the evening. The only problem reported was the
elderly, white haired man with a liking for rubber all in one suits
and vacu-bags, who had tried to disrupt and interfere with play in
the room. We were satisfied that the allegations were unfounded.
Last Friday, the club owner had a visit from the CID. Someone had
made allegations to the police that non consensual activities had been going on in
the rope room at the last Mercy. Even though this was the same night
that we'd had the licensing police visit, and had been given a seal
of approval, they have a duty to investigate all such claims, even
if there was no actual report from the "victim of the crime".
The club owner contacted us and said that he'd answered all of their
questions, and that they had been satisfied with his replies about
what actually does go on in the club. They were happy to leave
talking to Mike and myself as the club organisers till the next club
night.
Meanwhile we received an e-mail from the man who had made the
allegations at Mercy.
This e-mail contained allegations that, and I quote: "a girl was
tied up and while immobilised was touched by a vibrator by two men
while the spectators laughed. SHE WAS RAPED"
Obviously such allegations have to be taken seriously. Having been
previously satisfied that this person's allegations were unfounded
this more serious allegation
required a more in depth investigation.
We spoke to the alleged "victim". She gave a very different
description of the alleged incident. She had thoroughly enjoyed the
rope play and subsequent sensational experience, which had at no
time been particularly intimate, bearing in mind that at all time
during the play she was fully clothed. At no time did she ask for
the play to be stopped, nor was she uncomfortable with what was
happening. She was not distressed, and admits to smiling rather a
lot while she was bound. She was totally dumbfounded when told her of
the allegations.
Her reply to the following questions were :
Did she feel she had been sexually assaulted?
No
Had she been raped?
No
Did she feel that that anything non-consensual had taken place?
No
At the time of the alleged incident there were at least 8 other
people in the room, including her friends, and people she knew.
As far as we are concerned the allegations of rape were unfounded
and totally false.
It is one thing to be unhappy with a night at a club, and to go home
feeling a little put out because despite numerous attempts at
harassing people for play, one didn't feel satisfied, or hadn't
enjoyed oneself as much as one had hoped. But, to make such
unfounded and knowingly false allegations of such a serious nature
not only to us, but to the police too, is totally reprehensible.
Not only has he wasted police time, he's put the club owners licence
at risk, he's questioned the integrity of the DM's, crew and
organisers of Mercy, he's made serious false allegations against
three people who were playing consensually and within the rules of
the club, and put the whole future of Mercy and their members
on the line.
Needless to say we have banned this man and he will no longer be
welcome at any future events we organise. If any club owners would
like further details, and a fuller description of this man, please
mail us privately.
The last line of his mail states "In this country there is no such
thing as a secret, remember that"
Our reply is simply "In life,
actions bring consequences"
Mike and tiana
Mercy organisers
cheshirebdsm@hotmail.com