Full Breakdown
Former DUP Leader Jeffrey Donaldson on Trial for Historical Sexual Offences
5/29/2026, 12:25:00 AM
Trial Overview
Newry Crown Court in County Down is hearing the case of former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader and ex-MP Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, who has pleaded not guilty to 18 sexual-offence charges. The charges relate to alleged abuse of two girls when they were children, spanning the period 1985-2008. A jury of seven men and five women will consider pre-recorded police interviews, documentary evidence and live testimony over an expected three-to-four-week trial.
Political Background
Donaldson led the DUP from 2021 to 2023 and was a senior figure in Northern Ireland’s unionist politics. He resigned as party leader and withdrew from his Westminster seat after his arrest on 28 March 2024. The arrest followed a police investigation that began after the two alleged victims reported “difficult and traumatic incidents” in March 2024.
Timeline of Key Events
- 1985-2008 – Period during which the alleged offences are said to have occurred.
- 1997 – A church-mediated meeting is alleged to have taken place with the older complainant.
- June 2020 – Donaldson writes a letter to the younger complainant expressing regret.
- 28 March 2024 – Donaldson and his wife Eleanor are arrested at their Dromore home.
- 29 March 2024 – Donaldson resigns as DUP leader.
- May 2026 – Trial opens at Newry Crown Court; jury sworn in.
Charges and Trial Parameters
- Total charges: 18 (1 count of rape, 4 counts of gross indecency, 13 counts of indecent assault).
- Victims: Two women, identified in court as Complainant A and Complainant B.
- Defendant’s spouse: Eleanor Donaldson, 60, faces five counts of aiding and abetting; she has been found unfit for a conventional trial and will undergo a trial of the facts.
- Jury composition: Seven men, five women.
- Expected duration: Approximately three to four weeks.
Victim Testimony (On-the-Ground Reports)
Complainant A alleges that Donaldson touched her under her top repeatedly, made comments about her breast size, used a bright light to view her private parts, and kissed her, inserting his tongue into her mouth. She described recurring nightmares and a lasting feeling of “being dirty.” Complainant B recounts that Donaldson put his hands down her underwear, pulled her legs apart, and sexually assaulted her while she pretended to be asleep; she also says he lifted her top and touched her breasts on multiple occasions. Both women reported the abuse to police in March 2024.
Official Statements & Responses
Crown barrister Rosemary Walsh KC outlined the prosecution’s case, noting the victims’ reports of “difficult and traumatic incidents” and reading Donaldson’s 2020 letter to the jury. Judge Paul Ramsey ruled Eleanor Donaldson medically unfit for a conventional trial, ordering a trial of the facts. Defence counsel Kieran Vaughan KC questioned the reliability of the complainants’ memories, describing them as “foggy,” and suggested that some alleged incidents might have been fabricated or misremembered. Donaldson himself described the rape allegation as “unbelievable” and denied any sexual contact.
Criticism & Opposition
The defence highlighted inconsistencies in the complainants’ recollections, emphasizing statements that their memories were “foggy” and that certain details—such as the alleged tongue-in-mouth kiss—could not be corroborated. Vaughan characterised the accusations as “ridiculous” and “insulting,” and suggested that trauma from an earlier, unrelated abuse might influence the complainants’ accounts.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the start year of the alleged offences (1985 vs. 1987). The complainants describe both vivid and fragmented memories, leading to divergent assessments of reliability. Donaldson’s 2020 letter expresses regret but does not specify the alleged acts, creating ambiguity about its purpose.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I wish I could find the right words to adequately express just how sorry I am for all of this… I take full responsibility for it all.” — Jeffrey Donaldson, letter, June 2020
- “I felt very dirty for a long time.” — Complainant A, police interview
- “He just nodded his head and looked at the floor.” — Complainant A, describing Donaldson’s response
- “It felt like an apology.” — Complainant A, on the 2020 letter
- “ When Donaldson was interviewed by police, he said that it was “unbelievable” that he would have touched her sexually.” — Jeffrey Donaldson, police interview
What’s Next
The trial will proceed with the live testimony of Complainant A, followed by cross-examination of both parties. Additional documentary evidence, including the recorded police interviews, will be examined. The jury will retire after the evidence phase, and a verdict is expected before the end of the four-week trial window.
