Former Northern Ireland Party Leader Guilty of Child Sex Crimes
Jeffrey Donaldson led Northern Ireland's largest unionist party the DUP. On Monday he was found guilty of 18 child sexual offences including rape.
The verdict was delivered at Newry Crown Court in Northern Ireland. Donaldson abused two victims who were children at the time.
The abuse happened more than 30 years ago. The offences spanned 1985 to 2008.
They included one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency. A jury of seven men and five women returned a unanimous verdict.
They deliberated for more than 10 hours across three days. Donaldson is 63 years old.
He was taken into custody immediately after the verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for 25 September 2026 at Newry Crown Court.
The judge said a lengthy prison sentence is inevitable. His wife Eleanor was also found to have helped him commit the crimes.
Key Terms 5
- DUP Democratic Unionist Party, Northern Ireland's largest unionist political party
- indecent assault A serious sexual crime involving unwanted physical contact
- gross indecency A serious sexual offence involving inappropriate sexual acts
- unanimous verdict All jury members agreed on the same guilty decision
- aided and abetted Helped another person commit a crime