Ex-DUP leader Donaldson guilty of child sex abuse

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was yesterday found guilty of 18 historical sex offences, including one count of rape, against two women when they were children.

- JONATHAN MCCAMBRIDGE

A jury at Newry Crown Court convicted the former DUP leader, 63, of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency.

His wife Eleanor Donaldson has been found to have aided and abetted his crimes following a trial of the facts.

Jeffrey Donaldson, dressed in a dark blue suit, white shirt and pink tie, was informed he will be sentenced at the same court later in the year and was remanded in custody.

He showed no reaction to the verdicts when they were read out, as he stood with his hands folded in front of him. He had pleaded not guilty to the offences, which spanned a period between 1985 and 2008.

Complainants A and B both gave evidence at the trial, alleging they were abused as children.

Jeffrey Donaldson spent two days giving evidence during the trial, where he repeatedly denied the allegations.