Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson testifies at Newry sexual offences trial

Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson appeared in the witness box at Newry Crown Court to deny 18 sexual‑offence charges, including one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency. The alleged offences relate to two women who say they were abused as children between 1985 and 2008. Donaldson told the jury the allegations were “simply not true” and that a 2020 letter expressing regret was “absolutely not” about any abuse.

His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, is also facing a trial of the facts on charges of aiding and abetting, but is not present in court because of mental‑health concerns. Prosecutors have highlighted a meeting in the 1990s arranged by a Christian group, which Donaldson denies attending to “nip claims in the bud”. Throughout his testimony he maintained that he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing and that the claims are fabricated.