Donaldson sex offences trial opens at Newry crown court

The trial of former Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson for alleged sex offences is set to begin at Newry crown court on Tuesday.

Donaldson, 63, faces 18 charges involving two alleged victims. They include one count of rape, nine counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency towards a child. The offences are alleged to have taken place between 1985 and 2006. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, faces five charges of aiding and abetting rape and indecent assault.

Both deny the charges. A judge ruled last week that Eleanor Donaldson is unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds and will instead face a trial of facts. That process tests the evidence but cannot result in a conviction. The two proceedings will run at the same time.

Police arrested the couple at their home in March 2024. Donaldson resigned as MP for Lagan Valley and as DUP leader. He was suspended from the party. The case disrupted the work of the Stormont executive.

Donaldson was a senior figure in Northern Ireland unionism and helped negotiate the Windsor framework on post-Brexit trade rules. The DUP replaced him with Gavin Robinson. The party later lost Donaldson’s Westminster seat to Alliance’s Sorcha Eastwood.

Northern Ireland’s attorney general, Dame Brenda King, has warned the public against social media posts that could breach victims’ anonymity or prejudice the jury. She said anyone found in contempt of court could face up to two years in prison.

Jury selection is expected to begin on the first day of the trial, which is scheduled to last at least four weeks.