Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson is scheduled to be sentenced today for child sex abuse, including rape. He was convicted in June 2026 of 18 counts of sex abuse, committed against two women when they were children.
Judge Paul Ramsey previously informed the 63-year-old that the sentence would be a lengthy one. Donaldson arrived at Newry Crown Court from Maghaberry Prison, where he has been awaiting sentencing. He is currently seeking to appeal his convictions.
His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, faced a trial of the facts on mental health grounds. A jury found that she had committed acts in relation to all five charges, which included four counts of aiding and abetting her husband's offending.
Following Jeffrey Donaldson's conviction, the DUP initiated an independent review into issues arising from the case. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) also launched an independent safeguarding review concerning Donaldson's conduct during his 21-year membership of that party.
Donaldson was stripped of his knighthood by the King in July. Last month, a review by the Northern Ireland Assembly into his conduct at Stormont found no relevant information requiring further investigation.