Former DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Convicted of 18 Child Sex Abuse Charges, Including Rape
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, aged 63, was found guilty of 18 sex abuse charges, including a count of rape, committed against two women when they were children. The verdicts were delivered at Newry Crown Court, where Donaldson remained impassive.
Lady Eleanor Donaldson, his wife, faced a trial of the facts due to mental health considerations. The jury determined she committed acts related to all five charges against her, which included four counts of aiding and abetting her husband’s crimes.
The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for ten hours over three days before reaching their conclusions. Judge Paul Ramsey remanded Donaldson in custody, indicating a lengthy sentence is expected in September.
The two victims were referred to as Complainants A and B. Complainant A was subjected to eight offences between 1999 and 2008. Police interviews, presented in court, detailed encounters including unwanted touching and a distressing incident where Donaldson used a light to examine her private parts. Complainant A testified that Eleanor Donaldson witnessed an incident of inappropriate touching but did not intervene.
The remaining ten offences, including the rape charge, concerned Complainant B and occurred between 1985 and 1991. Complainant B testified about frequent unwanted touching and detailed the rape. She also stated Eleanor Donaldson observed an incident where her husband touched Complainant B's breasts but walked away.
Current DUP leader Gavin Robinson condemned Donaldson's actions as “evil” and “heinous”, calling for the revocation of his knighthood and Privy Council membership. Robinson praised the victims' bravery, noting the “cruel” impact of Donaldson’s denials forcing them to give evidence. He stated that neither he nor his colleagues were aware of the allegations and that the party acted decisively upon Donaldson’s arrest.
Geraldine Hanna, Northern Ireland’s Victims of Crime Commissioner, commended the victims’ courage in enduring the two-year legal process under intense media scrutiny. The NSPCC in Northern Ireland and Nexus NI also lauded the complainants for their bravery in coming forward, highlighting the immense personal cost of engaging with the justice system.
