FACING ALLEGATIONS
Jeffrey Donaldson charged with 11 historical sex offences including rape over 21-year period as ex-DUP leader in court
It is the first time the 61-year-old has been seen in public since he was arrested
FORMER DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Eleanor were in court today accused of child sex offences against two alleged victims.
There was a heavy police presence as the pair arrived separately for the hearing in Newry, Co Down.
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Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is accused of the rape and sex abuse of one complainant and of sexually abusing a second.
And Lady Eleanor Donaldson faces allegation of aiding and abetting rape and indecent assault as well as offences of child cruelty.
There were chaotic scenes outside Newry Courthouse as watchers and press pushed forward against uniformed officers to capture shots of the veteran unionist leader, Northern Ireland’s longest serving MP.
With the court packed to the rafters with press and more than 120 others signed in by videolink, District Judge Eamon King warned it should be clear to everyone that “it is a criminal offence to record any proceedings that occur in a courtroom”.
Wearing a grey suit, white shirt and light blue tie as he stood in the dock, Mr Donaldson, 61, was flanked by prison officers as he stood in the dock.
He confirmed his name and date of birth and also that he understood the 11 charges against him.
In relation to the complainant he is alleged to have raped, he faces a total of five charges including four counts of indecent assault and a single charge of rape.
All are alleged to have been committed on dates unknown between January 1 1985 and January 1 1991.
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In relation to the second complainant, he faces five charges of indecent assault and one charge of gross indecency towards a child, allegedly committed on dates between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2006.
Standing alongside her husband in the dock and wearing a black suit, 58-year-old Lady Eleanor also confirmed her name, date of birth and also that she understood the four charges against her.
She is accused of aiding and abetting her husband in rape, aiding and abetting with indecent assault and two counts of child cruelty in relation to the two complainants in that she allegedly wilfully neglected them.
The particulars of the aiding and abetting rape charge alleges that the politician raped the female on “knowing that she did not so consent or being reckless as to whether the said person so consented” and that Mrs Donaldson “did aid, abet, counsel and procure the commission of the said offence.”
PSNI Detective Sergeant Fleming told prosecuting counsel Fiona O’Kane that he could connect both defendants, who were arrested last month, to their respective charges.
Following the formal connection, Ms O’Kane requested a lifting “by agreement” of a prohibition of Sir Jeffrey or lady Eleanor having any contact with each other.
Another bail condition to be varied, said Crown counsel,is that neither defendant may speak with anyone on a list of people interviewed by police since the pair were charged four weeks ago.
Ms O’Kane said “there are more who have been spoken to” by investigators since then.
BACK ON BAIL
Freeing the pair on their own bail of £350, around €400, and granting the bail variations, DJ King adjourned the case to May 22 and formally excused them from attending.
While Lady Eleanor’s defence solicitor Richard Monteith asked if she could be allowed to be freed from the court to sign her own bail, the judge said that “ordinarily defendants go downstairs to sign their bail.”
He told the court given “tensions” associated with the case, he saw no reason to depart from that.
The prison officers lead the accused from the court to the cells downstairs.
COURT APPEARANCE
By JASON JOHNSON
JEFFREY Donaldson arrived in Belfast early today on a ferry from Britain.
While some photographers were waiting for him at the city’s two airports, the former DUP leader was making his way to Newry.
The 61-year-old has been living at a bail address, believed to be in London, since he was charged four weeks ago.
He was dropped off at Newry Courthouse at 9.30am and shielded by police as he walked through the secure gate of the building.
Mrs Donaldson, 58, arrived soon after, her pathway inside cleared by the waiting police.
At 10.40am they entered Court Number 3 with a custody officer between them.
Both stood to confirm their identity and hear the charges read out.
Neither were due to enter a plea during the seven minute hearing, attended by dozens of journalists in the courtroom, in a separate room and online.
Both looked straight ahead during the proceedings before they were led out of the courtroom.
On the street outside police surrounded Mr Donaldson as he was forced to wait for a short time for the arrival of his lift.
Under the altered conditions, Sir Jeffrey and Lady Eleanor are now allowed to be together for the first time in a month.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was elected leader of the DUP in 2021.
He is Northern Ireland’s longest-serving MP having been first elected to Parliament in 1997 with the UUP.
In 2003 however, he left to join the DUP due to his long-standing opposition to the Good Friday Agreement and the leadership of David Trimble.
Knighted for political service in 2016, Sir Jeffrey recently brokered a deal which brought the DUP back into Stormont, ending a two-year boycott of the devolved institutions.
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Within hours of being charged four weeks ago, Sir Jeffrey resigned as DUP leader “with immediate effect,” a move which saw Gavin Robinson appointed as the party’s interim leader.
While the alleged offender’s party membership was also suspended “pending the outcome of a judicial process,” Sir Jeffrey remains MP for the Lagan Valley constituency, a seat he has held since 1997.
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