Trial of Jeffrey Donaldson

Background

On 30 June 2021, Jeffrey Donaldson became leader of the DUP following the resignation of Edwin Poots. As part of the party's protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol, First Minister Paul Givan resigned in February 2022, collapsing the Northern Ireland Executive. Although initially opposed to the Windsor Framework, Donaldson announced on 30 January 2024 that the DUP had secured sufficient changes to the deal to end its boycott and return to Stormont.

At around 6 am on 28 March 2024, Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor, were arrested at their home near Dromore in County Down by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and taken to Antrim Police Station for questioning regarding non-recent sexual offences. That evening, Donaldson was charged with rape and additional sexual offences, while Eleanor was charged with aiding-and-abetting offences. Donaldson resigned as DUP leader and stated in his resignation letter that he would be "strenuously contesting the charges".

Donaldson was initially charged with 11 offences relating to two complainants: one count of rape allegedly committed between 1985 and 1991, one count of gross indecency towards a child allegedly committed in 2005 or 2006, and nine counts of indecent assault allegedly committed between 1985 and 2006. Eleanor was charged with aiding and abetting cruelty, rape, and indecent assault, relating to two complainants and alleged to have occurred between 1985 and 2004. As co-defendants, they were bailed to separate addresses; she returned to their home in Dromore, while he travelled to London to reside in an apartment in the Greenwich area.

Pretrial legal proceedings

On 24 April 2024, Donaldson and his wife appeared before Newry Magistrates' Court to confirm that they understood the charges. They were bailed at £350 each, and the restriction preventing contact between them was lifted. On 3 July 2024, they again appeared before the court, where prosecution lawyers stated that there was a prima facie case to answer and neither defendant made contrary submissions. Both confirmed they understood the charges and declined to make verbal or written statements.

The court heard that Donaldson now faced 18 charges in total:

one charge of rape

four of gross indecency towards a child

thirteen charges of indecent assault of a female child

Eleanor's charges increased from four to five:

one charge of aiding and abetting rape

one charge of cruelty towards a person under the age of 16

three charges of aiding and abetting the assault of a female child

Both were released on continuing bail. On 10 September 2024, at an arraignment hearing at Newry Crown Court, Donaldson entered a not guilty plea to all 18 historical sexual offences.

In late October 2024, Eleanor's legal team applied to have two of her five charges withdrawn. During a February 2025 hearing, a video recording of one complainant's Achieving Best Evidence interview was played to Judge Paul Ramsey. Defence submissions were made by Ian Turkington KC, while prosecution barrister Rosie Walsh KC argued for the charges to remain. Both defendants were present but were not required to make submissions during the three‑hour hearing. On 28 February 2025, Judge Ramsey rejected the application and ruled that Eleanor should be tried on all five charges. Her legal team confirmed she would plead not guilty to all charges.

Trial

On the morning of 26 May 2026, Donaldson appeared at Newry Crown Court for the opening day of his trial. Eleanor, having been declared unfit to stand trial, did not attend. After jury selection had concluded, Judge Paul Ramsey informed the jury of five men and seven women that the trial was expected to last between three and four weeks. On the same day, the PSNI issued a statement warning the public against online commentary or speculation that could prejudice proceedings or identify the complainants. Jeffrey Donaldson was represented by Kieran Vaughan KC, who had previously worked on Ched Evans' appeal, while Eleanor Donaldson was represented by Ian Turkington KC, who had previously been the lead defence barrister during the "Soldier F" murder trial .

Opening statements

Prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh outlined to the jury how, two-and-a-half years earlier, the PSNI had been approached by two women who made allegations of child sexual abuse against Donaldson. The older of the two, referred to in court as 'Complainant B', told police of an incident in which Donaldson put his hand inside her underwear and sexually assaulted her, and another in which he fondled her exposed breasts without her consent. She further alleged that, during one incident, Eleanor entered the room while the abuse was taking place but immediately left again, closing the door behind her. 'Complainant A' also alleged that Donaldson had touched her breasts and, on another occasion, had forced his tongue into her mouth while kissing her against her will.

Walsh said that both complainants estimated that the abuse began when they were in primary school, although their recollections of the precise timelines were not exact. 'Complainant B' alleged that Donaldson had raped her while she pretended to be asleep, recalling "wanting to go home" afterwards. She additionally claimed in police interviews that frequent indecent assaults were carried out over a number of years, and that as she grew older she confided in several people. A meeting was arranged by a religious group between the complainant and Donaldson in January 1997, and although he apologised for what he "had done in the past", nothing specific was discussed. 'Complainant A' told police about becoming sexually aware from a young age and having vivid dreams of men doing "horrible things" to her. She also recalled waking one night to find Donaldson between her legs with a torch. She said she later confronted him about his behaviour, during which he allegedly nodded and looked at the floor but said nothing.

The court heard that Donaldson denied all accusations following his arrest in March 2024, while his wife Eleanor denied having aided and abetted his alleged offending. Walsh clarified that the charges against Eleanor were that she was aware of what was occurring at the time of the alleged offences.

Prosecution evidence

The trial began with both of Donaldson's accusers appearing via video link to testify for the prosecution, before other witnesses took the stand to give evidence. Finally, the jury were played recording of police interviews with Jeffrey and Eleanor Donaldson where specific allegations were put to them.

The March 2024 police interview of 'Complainant A' was played to the court, in which she told officers that Donaldson began abusing her from around primary school age, often fondling her breasts. She alleged that he continued to make comments about the size of her breasts in the years that followed, and that his inappropriate behaviour was "laughed off as a joke". She also recalled an alleged incident as a teenager in which Donaldson used a bright light to examine her genitals. When she reached university age, 'Complainant A' said she realised the behaviour was abnormal and became angry, considering the accolades he received in his public role as a politician. She initially confided in her husband about what had happened and later spoke to a counsellor from a charity that supported child abuse victims, before approaching the PSNI to make an official statement. 'Complainant A' also confronted Donaldson in the presence of another person, demanding that he confirm what had happened to her as a child; however, he allegedly looked at the floor and silently nodded his head rather than respond to her accusations.

After the video had ended, 'Complainant A' was questioned via videolink by prosecutor Walsh regarding a letter sent to her by Donaldson in June 2020. The letter was read aloud to the court, in which Donaldson expressed "how much I truly regret all the hurt, pain and distress I have caused", adding that he took "full responsibility for it all" and "I understand how deep the wounds are caused by my sinful and selfish actions". When asked what she thought the letter was referring to, 'Complainant A' said she felt Donaldson was trying to apologise for the abuse he committed but did not want to formally admit to it in writing.

Under cross-examination from Donaldson's barrister Kieran Vaughan, she denied having "foggy" recollections of the alleged incidents, asserting that what she meant when using that term during police interviews was that the exact timeline of when they occurred was unclear to her, adding that she remembered the incidents themselves in great detail due to the nature of what happened. Vaughan challenged 'Complainant A' by saying none of the incidents actually happened and that she had either made them up or dreamt them, to which she replied that someone randomly dreaming about it for no reason would be a "ridiculous idea". Vaughan went on to highlight inconsistencies in her statements to the PSNI compared with her testimony in court, where she had reported "touching over clothing" to the police but told the jury about Donaldson putting his hands up her top onto bare skin. 'Complainant A' dismissed the discrepancy and maintained that what she had said in court was factually correct.

Defence submissions

Taking the stand to give evidence in his own defence, Donaldson denied all allegations made by both complainants and said that the letter he had written to 'Complainant A' was not an apology for alleged sexual abuse. He accepted, in response to questions from his defence barrister Vaughan, that he had an extramarital affair in 2008 with a woman in London, and said he was asked to leave the family home in 2020 after his wife confronted him about "flirtatious messages" he had sent to a constituent. He maintained that the letter in question related to infidelity rather than abuse. Donaldson also denied that his wife Eleanor had witnessed any inappropriate behaviour or failed to intervene. Regarding a meeting at the Christian Centre in Armoy in 1997, he accepted that he had apologised to 'Complainant B' but denied that it was connected to alleged abuse.

During cross‑examination by prosecution barrister Walsh, Donaldson maintained that both complainants had lied and that he was telling the truth when he denied that any of the alleged incidents had occurred. When asked why he believed 'Complainant B' would make false allegations of such seriousness, he said he did not know. Walsh suggested that the alleged abuse of 'Complainant B' had escalated because he had never been confronted about it; Donaldson rejected that suggestion. He instead claimed that 'Complainant B' resented his political success and his impending election to the House of Commons at a time when she was experiencing drug‑related difficulties at the Armoy religious centre.

In relation to the 1997 meeting in Armoy, Walsh put it to Donaldson that he had immediately taken control of the discussion by stating that he knew why he had been called there. Donaldson repeated that he had apologised only for making 'Complainant B' feel uncomfortable, and said she had lied when making allegations to Claire Selfridge and Pastor Matthews. Walsh reminded the court that David and Linda Hoy, who were present at the meeting, had testified that Donaldson "asked for forgiveness" from 'Complainant B'. Donaldson denied using those words, and when it was put to him that religious witnesses such as the Hoys would be unlikely to give false evidence, he said his recollection of the meeting "differed" from theirs.

When the allegations of 'Complainant A' were put to him, Donaldson denied all of them and also denied nodding his head when confronted by her years later. Asked about a letter he sent to her in June 2020 seeking forgiveness, he said it did not relate to sexual abuse, and he denied that messages he sent to her and her husband expressing how sorry he was and wishing to "repent before them" were connected to allegations of abuse. Walsh concluded her cross‑examination by stating that "the only person telling lies is you, sinful and deceitful lies", to which Donaldson replied, "Not true".

Closing statements

Addressing the jury, prosecuting barrister Rosemary Walsh referred to what she described as the "compelling testimony" of both complainants, saying the distress they experienced was "visible". On the question of why the allegations had emerged many years after the events, Walsh argued that 'Complainant B' had learned of the alleged abuse of 'Complainant A' and blamed herself for not having come forward sooner. She noted that 'Complainant B' had disclosed the allegations to others when she was a teenager, and therefore they were not invented at a later stage. The court also heard that 'Complainant A' had informed both her husband and Eleanor of alleged abuse by Donaldson, and that Eleanor had been accused of having "brushed [it] under the carpet" rather than taking action.

For the defence, Vaughan reminded the jury that the case rested on the complainants' accounts and Donaldson's denials, as no forensic or eyewitness evidence supported either side. He argued that 'Complainant B' was an unreliable witness who wished to deflect attention from her own difficulties with recreational drug use. Vaughan also questioned the fact that both complainants approached the police on the same day after many years, describing this as suspicious. He emphasised that the burden of proof lay with the prosecution and that Donaldson was not required to prove anything. Vaughan further submitted that 'Complainant A' was an unreliable witness, pointing to inconsistencies between her police statement and her court testimony. He rejected claims of a confrontation in May 2021 as untrue and argued that she had misrepresented the context of the June 2020 letter. Ian Turkington, representing Eleanor, said the prosecution had not proved its case against his client and questioned the reliability of memories of events said to have occurred decades earlier.

Before the jury retired to deliberate, judge Paul Ramsey summarised the evidence over two hours and instructed them that they could convict Donaldson only if satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. He also told the jury that they must not be influenced by sympathy for either the Donaldsons or the complainants, and should reach their verdict solely on the evidence presented in court.

Verdict

On 22 June 2026, Donaldson was found guilty as charged on all 18 counts, including one count of rape, and was remanded into custody to await sentencing, with judge Ramsey stating "Take Mr. Donaldson down" before he was taken away by officers. Donaldson was reported to have shown no emotion as the verdict was read out. Eleanor was found to have aided and abetted him in committing the same offences.

Appeal

On 17 July 2026, Donaldson's legal team lodged papers to appeal his conviction.

Reactions

First Minister for Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill praised the courage of the complainants, writing on X that "It is difficult to find words that fully capture the immense courage they have shown, not only throughout this deeply distressing court case, but across their lifetimes." Likewise, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who had been co-opted into her Lagan Valley seat after Donaldson, who was at the time still a sitting MP, won a seat in the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, stated "today is the day for the victims", followed by "To have to go through a trial to get justice only adds to the trauma they have experienced. It takes a huge amount of courage for the victims of such abuse to come forward to pursue justice".

Many members of the DUP described a feeling of betrayal. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, party insiders claimed that Donaldson rarely spoke of his home life and they "never knew" the real Jeffrey. Party leader Gavin Robinson, who took over from Donaldson following his arrest, stated "the full force of the law shall be felt" and that he had "betrayed the trust" of his colleagues in the DUP.

Other political leaders in Northern Ireland also spoke out following the verdict. Jon Burrows, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, of which Donaldson was a member until 2003, described him as an "absolute disgrace" and described the victims as heroes. Sinn Féin MP John Finucane stated "I think the immediate reaction, on behalf of everybody is with those victims and their loved ones." Deputy leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland Eóin Tennyson stated "Today sends a message that no matter what the office you hold or the influence you have, no one is above the law", whilst Belfast South and Mid Down MP and leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party Claire Hanna stated "Despite everything [the victims] went through in their lives, despite the mountain they had to climb going up against someone with every privilege in the world, they took their courage and they won." Independent unionist MLA Doug Beattie, who had recently left the UUP, stated "In this case, two brave women came forward and gave evidence that must have been extremely difficult to deliver."

Aftermath

Following the verdict, there were widespread calls for Donaldson's knighthood, which had been awarded in the 2016 Birthday Honours, to be revoked. Jim Allister, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice and MP for North Antrim, tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling on the Prime Minister to advise the King to revoke Donaldson's knighthood. Allister also accused the UK Government of using Donaldson's past to coerce him into changing his position on the Irish Sea border, saying "To me it is inconceivable that the government was unaware of his proclivities and the idea of such being used as leverage is far from fanciful." Hanna wrote to the Cabinet Office requesting Donaldson be stripped of his knighthood, with Burrows stating "Now we need to see Jeffrey Donaldson stripped of that title of Sir. He deserves nothing of that nature." Tennyson likewise stated "I think it would be only appropriate that any honours would be stripped." On 24 June, Donaldson's solicitor John McBurney issued a letter to the Cabinet Office on his behalf requesting his knighthood be revoked, and confirming Donaldson would be resigning from the Privy Council with immediate effect.