Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson found guilty of rape and child sex abuse, faces long prison term
Jeffrey Donaldson, once Northern Ireland's top unionist, was convicted on all 18 charges, including rape and indecent assault against two girls between 1985 and 2008. He will be sentenced on 25 September and expected to face a long prison term.
The verdict
A jury at Newry Crown Court found former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson guilty of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault, and four counts of gross indecency. The seven men and five women on the panel deliberated for ten hours from Thursday lunch before returning their verdict shortly after 2 pm on Monday. Judge Paul Ramsey told Donaldson he would receive a substantial prison sentence, remanded him in custody until 25 September, and ordered his name placed on the sex offenders register.
The case against Donaldson
The charges covered abuse of two women when they were children between 1985 and 2008. Both complainants, identified as A and B to protect their anonymity, gave evidence by video link. Complainant B, the older of the two, testified that Donaldson raped her when she was of primary school age and indecently assaulted her multiple times. Complainant A described being groped and having her breasts touched as a child. The prosecution produced a letter Donaldson wrote to Complainant A in June 2020, in which he expressed regret for "all the hurt, pain and distress I have caused". Donaldson claimed the letter referred to other behaviour, not sexual abuse.
I knew this would be an extremely public affair, involving media. It was a huge, huge decision.
Donaldson testified over two days, denying all allegations and telling the court he was "crystal clear" he did not rape anyone. No other witnesses were called in his defence.
It just didn't happen, I am absolutely crystal clear about that. It is not something I would ever have done, it is simply not true.
The charges
Donaldson faced a total of 18 historical sex offence charges. Rape carried the single most serious count, with the bulk of the indictment made up of 13 indecent assault charges and four counts of gross indecency. All were linked to the two complainants over a period spanning more than two decades.
- Rape
- 1
- Indecent assault
- 13
- Gross indecency
- 4
A political career in ruins
Donaldson was Northern Ireland's longest-serving Westminster MP, first elected in 1997, and had been knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2016. He led the DUP back into power-sharing at Stormont after a two-year boycott, brokering a post-Brexit trade deal with the British government just two months before his arrest in March 2024. The fall was abrupt: on 7 March 2024 his two victims lodged formal complaints with the police; three weeks later, on Good Friday, he was charged and resigned as party leader. By Monday's verdict, a political life that began with the UUP in the 1980s and saw him defect to the DUP in 2003 had ended in conviction.
First and foremost our thoughts are with the victims, I think they deserve huge credit and continued support for the bravery that they have shown in putting themselves forward and stepping forward to give evidence to enter into the criminal justice process.
Eleanor Donaldson
His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, faced a trial of the facts after being found unfit for a conventional trial on mental health grounds. The jury found she had committed the acts alleged in five charges, including four related to aiding and abetting her husband's offences. She could not be convicted but the findings further damaged the family's public standing.
Timeline of the case
Key dates from the first formal complaints through the guilty verdict and sentencing schedule.
- Two victims lodge formal complaints with the PSNI.
- Donaldson attends St Patrick's event in Washington DC; PSNI chief avoids contact.
- Charged with sexual abuse on Good Friday, resigns as DUP leader.
- Jury returns guilty verdict on all 18 counts.
- Sentencing hearing scheduled; judge orders custody until then.
