Two women have come forward accusing Sir Jeffrey Donaldson of sexual abuse, alleging that he subjected them to distressing incidents during their childhood, as revealed in his ongoing trial at Newry Crown Court in Northern Ireland. The 63-year-old former MP faces charges of rape, gross indecency, and indecent assault spanning from 1985 to 2008, with two complainants involved.
Lady Eleanor Donaldson, residing in Dromore, Co Down, is also implicated, denying charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged actions and facing a trial of the facts. Donaldson, dressed in a blue suit, stood in court as the accusations against him and his wife were presented to the jury of seven men and five women.
During the opening of the prosecution case by Barrister Rosemary Walsh KC, it was outlined that witnesses and police interviews conducted with the Donaldsons in 2024 would be key evidence. The two complainants reported difficult and traumatic incidents from their childhood, with their testimonies to be partly presented through pre-recorded interviews, not in person at court.
One of the complainants, referred to as Complainant B, recounted to the police that Donaldson had sexually abused her as a child, detailing specific incidents involving inappropriate touching. Complainant A also alleged that Donaldson had touched her inappropriately during her childhood. The trial involves scrutinizing the evidence presented by both complainants, with Jeffrey Donaldson and Lady Eleanor Donaldson undergoing police interviews after their arrest.
Jeffrey Donaldson denied the accusations made by the complainants during his police interview, expressing disbelief at the allegations. Lady Eleanor Donaldson is undergoing a trial of the facts due to mental health reasons, which cannot lead to a criminal conviction but aims to assess the evidence presented.
The trial, expected to last three to four weeks, has disrupted Jeffrey Donaldson’s political career, as he resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party following the allegations. The proceedings are being overseen by Judge Paul Ramsey, with both defendants’ cases being heard concurrently by the same jury.
