Trial of Jeffrey Donaldson for alleged sex offences to begin in Newry

The trial of former Democratic Unionist party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson for alleged sex offences is set to begin in a case that triggered a political earthquake in Northern Ireland.

Donaldson, 63, is charged with rape, gross indecency and other sexual offences spanning 21 years. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, is charged with aiding and abetting rape and indecent assault and will be subject to a trial of facts.

A heavy security and media presence is expected at Newry crown court for the opening of a trial on Tuesday that is expected to last at least four weeks.

Donaldson, a former MP for Lagan Valley in County Down, was a dominant figure in unionism and a key player at Westminster who helped to broker the post-Brexit Windsor framework on Northern Ireland’s trading arrangements.

Police arrested him and his wife at their home and questioned them in March 2024. He resigned as an MP and DUP leader and was suspended from the party. The case threw the DUP and the Stormont executive into disarray.

He is charged with 18 offences involving two alleged victims. The rape charge alleges he had unlawful sexual intercourse with the alleged victim without her consent on a date unknown between 1985 and 1991. Nine allegations of indecent assault span 1985 to 2006. He is also charged with committing an act of gross indecency towards a child between 2005 and 2006.

Lady Donaldson faces five charges relating to aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending. Both deny the charges and have pleaded not guilty.

After several delays to the trial, the judge, Paul Ramsey, ruled last week that Eleanor Donaldson was unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds and would instead face a trial of facts. “The interests of justice require that this case be progressed in a manner that is fair to all parties, but also as expeditiously as such fairness permits,” he said.