Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Denies Seeking to 'Nip in the Bud' Abuse Allegations at Armoy Meeting

During his second day of evidence at Newry Crown Court, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson strongly refuted suggestions that a meeting with an alleged victim, referred to as Complainant B, was an attempt to address and suppress accusations of abuse. The former Democratic Unionist Party leader faces a total of 18 charges, including rape, relating to alleged offences between 1985 and 2008.

Prosecution lawyer Rosemary Walsh KC questioned Sir Jeffrey about a meeting at the Christian Family Centre in Armoy in the late 1990s. The meeting, arranged by Davey Hoy, a centre founder, followed Complainant B’s disclosure of alleged abuse to a pastor. Ms Walsh suggested Sir Jeffrey attended because it was 'something you needed to nip in the bud'.

'That's not true,' Sir Jeffrey stated. 'He didn't say 'you need to get up to Armoy as there are serious issues to deal with'. I was not worried about going. I went willingly.'

Sir Jeffrey repeatedly denied knowledge that the meeting was prompted by allegations against him. Complainant B has testified that he apologised to her during the encounter; however, Sir Jeffrey maintained he only apologised if he had ever made her feel 'uncomfortable'. He asserted that no allegations were raised, stating, 'If the suggestion is that what I was apologising for is that someone had said there were allegations, that is not the case.' He further claimed Complainant B 'had become a Christian and wanted to move forward... I responded to that.'

The court previously heard from Davey and Linda Hoy, who also attended the brief meeting. Linda Hoy testified that Complainant B cried and expressed forgiveness towards Sir Jeffrey. When pressed by Ms Walsh as to why Complainant B would cry if the meeting was a 'positive experience' as he claimed, Sir Jeffrey responded, 'I remember talking with her, I don't remember the tears, I remember we embraced at the end of the meeting… maybe when I left there were tears, I don't know.'

Ms Walsh further contended that Sir Jeffrey 'took control' of the meeting, stating, 'You went in there and immediately said that you knew what all this was about and that you were truly sorry.' Sir Jeffrey denied this assertion emphatically.

Earlier evidence also included disclosures made by Complainant B to the Hoys' daughter, Claire Selfridge, during their teenage years, and to Christian pastor Stephen Matthews. When asked if both Complainant B and Ms Selfridge had lied, Sir Jeffrey replied, 'Yes, the allegations being made by her, I have said repeatedly are untrue.'

Sir Jeffrey also denied that his previous comments on the size of Complainant A's breasts were due to physical contact, stating, 'Absolutely not.' He denies acts of gross indecency and indecent assault against Complainant A between 1999 and 2008. His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, faces five charges of aiding and abetting and is undergoing a trial of the facts due to being deemed unfit for a conventional trial. The proceedings are ongoing.