Husband of Complainant A Details Abuse Allegations Against Sir Jeffrey Donaldson in Court

The husband of Complainant A, whose anonymity is protected, testified at Newry Crown Court regarding his wife's allegations against Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. He recounted the moment his wife revealed that Sir Jeffrey had abused her on multiple occasions when she was younger.

Details of Alleged Abuse

The witness stated, "She did go into detail that he inappropriately touched her and that on a number of occasions that he kissed her with his tongue." He also described his wife's account of an encounter where she claimed Sir Jeffrey looked at her private parts. The witness described his wife as "scared" during the disclosure, noting, "She told me that she never told anyone this, so I recognised this was massive for her."

During cross-examination by Sir Jeffrey's barrister, Kieran Vaughan KC, the witness was asked about the delay in reporting the allegations. He responded, "She was still working through and coming to a realisation of what had happened. This was trauma she had for so many years, had boxed off, had tried to put on a smile and pretend that everything was OK and that was a difficult process. She was genuinely terrified. We were both terrified."

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson faces 18 sex abuse charges, including acts of gross indecency and indecent assault against Complainant A between 1999 and 2008. His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, who is undergoing a trial of the facts on mental health grounds, denies five charges related to aiding and abetting. Further alleged offences, including a charge of rape, date back to 1985 and concern a second woman, Complainant B, who was also a child at the time of the alleged incidents.