Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson found guilty of rape
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has been warned he faces a “long” prison sentence after being found guilty of 18 historic sexual offenses against two women as children.
A jury at Newry Crown Court found the 63-year-old former DUP leader guilty of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency.
After investigating the facts, it was revealed that his wife, Eleanor Donaldson, had aided and abetted the crimes.
Jeffrey Donaldson, who was wearing a navy blue suit, white shirt and pink tie, was told that he would be sentenced in the same court in the same year and was arrested.
He showed no reaction while the decisions were being read, and clasped his hands in front of him.
He denied the crimes, which spanned the period between 1985 and 2008.
Complainants A and B testified at the hearing, claiming that they were abused as children.
Jeffrey Donaldson testified for two days during the hearing, in which he repeatedly denied the allegations.
Eleanor Donaldson, 60, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denied various charges of aiding and abetting her husband.
He faced a trial of facts on sanity grounds that tested the evidence but failed to result in a criminal conviction.
Current DUP leader Gavin Robinson, who took charge of the party when Donaldson resigned following his first arrest in 2024, said he welcomed justice to be served.
“Our thoughts today are, above all, with the innocent victims whose lives have been affected and devastated by his predatory and disgusting behaviour,” he told a press conference in east Belfast.
Mr Robinson added his voice to those calling for Donaldson to be stripped of his knighthood.
The jury in Newry was brought back into the courtroom after lunch on Monday after deliberating for just over 10 hours.
At 2:15 p.m., Donaldson was asked to stand as the court clerk asked the jury foreman to read the verdicts.
After the verdicts were announced, Judge Paul Ramsey expressed his “gratitude and thanks” to the jury.
Before leaving the chamber, jurors were granted lifetime immunity from jury service.
Prosecuting lawyer Rosemary Walsh KC later confirmed that victim statements would be prepared before sentencing.
The judge said that a prison sentence was inevitable, stating that it would be “long”.
Donaldson was taken into custody and showed no emotion as he was led out of court.
A re-examination hearing will be held on September 11, followed by a pre-sentence hearing in the same court on September 25.
The judge also said Donaldson would be placed on the sex offenders register.
During the hearing, Complainant A presented evidence that Donaldson touched and kissed her inappropriately and examined her genitals with a light.
Complainant B told the hearing that she was raped by Donaldson as a primary school-age child and later sexually assaulted by him.
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane said after the conviction that his thoughts were with the victims.
Speaking to the media at Stormont Parliament Houses, Mr Finucane said: “First and foremost our thoughts are with the victims; I think they deserve huge praise and continued support for the courage they have shown in coming forward and giving evidence to engage in the criminal justice process, and firstly on a day like today I think all our thoughts are with them.
“This cannot be easy and they deserve our continued support in the coming period.”
Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows said: “Today a jury found Jeffrey Donaldson guilty on all charges.
“These are among the most serious crimes imaginable, committed against the most vulnerable by a man who has spent his career seeking the public trust.
“I want to pay tribute to the brave women who testified against the abuse inflicted on them by Jeffrey Donaldson.
“Their suffering was unimaginable.
“Donaldson’s lack of remorse and calling his victims liars is reprehensible.”
