Jury resumes deliberations in sex abuse trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson

LAST UPDATE | 2 hrs ago

THE JURY IN the sex abuse trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has resumed their deliberations.

Deliberations began on Thursday and the jury has been considering its verdict for close to seven hours so far.

The jury returned to Newry Crown Court this morning for their third day of deliberations.

Before sending the jury home for the weekend, judge Paul Ramsey issued his “usual warning not to talk about the case outside court, and to be care of the internet and social media”.

The judge also informed the jury at the beginning of their deliberations that the “prosecution must bear the burden of proving the case beyond reasonable doubt”.

“It’s a term you have heard in movies and the like, but you need to be sure.”

The 63-year-old former MP has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

Advertisement

The charges include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a period between 1985 and 2008 involving two alleged victims.

Complainants A and B have both given evidence at the trial.

Both women allege they were abused as children.

Donaldson spent two days giving evidence during the trial.

His wife, Eleanor Donaldson (60) from Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending.

She is facing a trial of the facts on mental health grounds.

The trial of the facts will test the evidence in the case but cannot result in a criminal conviction.

Last week, the judge remarked that “trial of the facts” was the most Googled term in Northern Ireland last month but that such a trial is “not unheard of, had happened before and will happen again.”

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More Support The Journal