Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson convicted of historical sex offences

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 14:02 · Archive

Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the DUP, has been convicted of a series of historical sexual offences against two women.

Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the DUP, has been convicted of historical sexual offences committed against two women. The two victims, known as Complainants A and B, gave evidence during his trial using special court measures that allowed them to testify in a separate room rather than in front of the defendant.

Donaldson was found guilty of ten charges relating to Complainant B, the older of the two women, including one count of rape and nine of indecent assault, dating from 1985 to 1991. He was convicted of four charges of indecent assault and four of gross indecency relating to Complainant A, spanning from 1999 to 2008.

During the trial, Complainant A, who was the first witness called, testified that she had first been abused when of primary school age. She described one incident in which she said Donaldson had used a light, possibly a torch, to look at her private parts. She also told the court of another incident in which she claimed Donaldson had put his tongue in her mouth, which she said had been 'laughed off' by both Donaldson and his wife Eleanor.

At a pre-sentence hearing in September, the two victims faced Donaldson in court for the first time as extracts from their victim impact statements were read aloud.

How it is being reported

• The evidence which led to the conviction of Jeffrey DonaldsonThe two women, known as Complainants A and B to protect their identities, made use of special court measures so that they did not have to give evidence in front of the former politicianBelfast Live · 15 Oct, 13:15
• The evidence which led to the conviction of Jeffrey DonaldsonBelfast Telegraph · 15 Oct, 12:28

In this story: Jeffrey Donaldson · DUP · Newry Crown Court

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