Trial of Jeffrey Donaldson

In March 2024, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, as he was styled at the time, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland, was charged with one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency against two women when they were children, between 1985 and 2008. His wife, the then Lady Eleanor Donaldson, was also charged with aiding-and-abetting offences relating to the same matter. After several delays a trial date of 26 May 2026 was set for both defendants, but a subsequent court ruling found that Eleanor was unfit to stand trial due to mental health issues.