Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Jury Views Police Interviews on Child Abuse Claims
A Belfast jury has been presented with video recordings of police interviews featuring one of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's alleged victims, referred to as Complainant A. These interviews, known as ABE (achieving best evidence) interviews, were conducted three weeks prior to Sir Jeffrey's arrest in March 2024.
Complainant A detailed a series of alleged encounters with the former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader. She opened one interview by stating, "I, from quite a young age, was, I think, sexually abused by Jeffrey Donaldson." She recounted a five-second kiss where, she claimed, "He put his tongue in my mouth and moved it around before I was able to push him off." This incident, she alleged, was then dismissed by Sir Jeffrey as "just a joke".
Further allegations included Sir Jeffrey making comments about her breast size and, in another alleged incident, using a bright light to examine her private parts, an experience that left her feeling "really frightened". She also claimed he put his hands under her bra and rubbed her breasts.
Sir Jeffrey, 63, has entered pleas of not guilty to 18 charges concerning two alleged victims when they were children, including one count of rape. Eight of these offences are against Complainant A, allegedly occurring between 1999 and 2008, comprising four counts of gross indecency and four counts of indecent assault.
Complainant A described realising the incidents were abnormal as an adult and experiencing nightmares. She claimed to have confronted Sir Jeffrey later in life, asking, "Can you confirm this happened to me?" She alleged he responded by nodding his head and looking at the floor, unable to meet her gaze.
Sir Jeffrey and his wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, were arrested at their County Down residence on 28 March 2024. Sir Jeffrey resigned as DUP leader the following day and did not contest his Lagan Valley seat in the general election. Lady Eleanor Donaldson faces a trial of the facts on five related charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies, after being deemed unfit for a conventional trial.
