Pastor Stephen Matthews Identifies Sir Jeffrey Donaldson as Alleged Abuser in Police Interview
During a police interview shown at the Sir Jeffrey Donaldson sex abuse trial, Pastor Stephen Matthews recounted a conversation with Complainant B in the 1990s. Matthews stated the woman, then in her teens, told him she had been sexually abused when she was very young. She allegedly conveyed that she could not disclose the abuse as it would 'destroy their political reputation'.
Sir Jeffrey denies 18 sex abuse charges, while his wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, denies five charges related to aiding and abetting.
Matthews told police he could not definitively recall if the complainant named her alleged abuser at the time, but he inferred the individual's identity. He explained, 'She had said he was rising through the ranks of the Official Unionist Party. He had been the assistant to a previous MP and as such would be in line to become an MP.'
The pastor concluded, 'There was only one person – it was Sir Jeffrey Donaldson as he is today.' Sir Jeffrey, a former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader, was previously an Ulster Unionist Party MP.
Matthews testified that Complainant B approached him at the Christian Family Centre in Armoy, appearing 'very, very emotionally disturbed'. He referred her to Davey and Linda Hoy, who managed the centre, for further support.
Earlier in the trial, Claire Selfridge, the Hoys' daughter, stated that Complainant B had disclosed allegations to her when they were both teenagers at the Armoy centre. Selfridge described her 'shock and horror' at the alleged abuse, likening the revelation to 'a bomb went off'. She noted the complainant was 'very troubled', and she realised the alleged abuse was 'clearly why she was how she was'.
During cross-examination, Sir Jeffrey's barrister, Kieran Vaughan, suggested that the complainant had not used the word 'sexual' to describe her abuse. Selfridge confirmed this, adding that the complainant had been 'matter of fact' in her disclosure.
Lady Donaldson's trial proceeds on mental health grounds, meaning she is not actively participating and cannot be convicted.
