Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has been found guilty on 18 counts of child sex abuse, including a charge of rape, in a case that has sent shockwaves throughout Northern Irish politics. The convictions relate to offences committed against two women when they were children, spanning from 1985 to 2008.
The jury, comprising seven men and five women, deliberated for ten hours over three days before reaching their conclusions. Donaldson, 63, showed no discernible emotion as the verdicts were read out at Newry Crown Court on Monday. He was dressed in a dark blue suit, white shirt, and pink tie, accompanied by two custody officers.
The court heard harrowing details of the abuse against two complainants, referred to as Complainant A and Complainant B. Eight of the offences, occurring between 1999 and 2008, were committed against Complainant A, who was left feeling "really frightened" after one incident where Donaldson allegedly used a light to look at her private parts.
The remaining ten offences, including the rape charge, related to Complainant B and took place between 1985 and 1991. Both complainants alleged that Donaldson's wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, had witnessed some of the incidents but did not intervene. Lady Eleanor Donaldson faced a trial of the facts on mental health grounds, with the jury finding that she had committed the acts relating to all five charges she faced, including four counts of aiding and abetting her husband's offending.
Following the convictions, DUP leader Gavin Robinson described the crimes as "evil" and "heinous", urging that Sir Jeffrey be stripped of his knighthood and Privy Council membership. Donaldson was subsequently transported from Newry Crown Court to Maghaberry Prison, located within his former constituency of Lagan Valley.
Donaldson's conviction marks a significant moment in Northern Irish politics, given his long and prominent career as a senior figure within the DUP and as an MP for over two decades. The revelations have sparked widespread concern and calls for greater action to address child sex abuse in all its forms.