LONDON (AP) — Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of Northern Ireland’s largest unionist political party, was found guilty Monday of rape and sexual abuse charges stemming from crimes committed against two girls over the course of several decades.
The 63-year-old was convicted at Newry Crown Court on one count of rape, four counts of gross indecency, and 13 counts of indecent assault. The offenses involved two girls and took place between 1985 and 2008.
Donaldson’s arrest two years ago effectively ended his prominent political career, during which he had been one of the most recognizable voices in Northern Ireland advocating for maintaining close ties with the United Kingdom. Following his arrest, he stepped down as leader of the conservative Democratic Unionist Party, known as the DUP, and relinquished his seat in the U.K. Parliament.
During the trial, Donaldson took the stand over two days and denied every allegation brought against him. At times visibly emotional, he insisted he was “crystal clear” that he had not raped one of the girls when she was a child. “It just didn’t happen, I am absolutely crystal clear about that,” he testified. “It is not something I would ever have done, it is just simply not true.”
Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was determined to have aided and abetted her husband by witnessing the abuse and failing to intervene. However, due to mental health concerns, she underwent only a fact-finding hearing, a process that does not allow for a criminal conviction.
The two victims, who testified that the abuse began when they were around primary school age, described being groped by Donaldson. The older of the two, referred to throughout the proceedings as Complainant B, stated that he raped her.
Complainant B also recalled a meeting that took place in the 1990s at a Christian center, where she had been staying while dealing with drug-related issues. She said that during that encounter, Donaldson apologized “for what had happened in the past.” Donaldson, however, claimed the apology was only for making her feel uncomfortable at the meeting itself.
In a separate written communication, Donaldson sent a letter to Complainant A in 2020 expressing regret for “hurt, pain and distress” he said he had caused. He maintained the letter had nothing to do with sexual abuse allegations and referred instead to other conduct. In the letter, he wrote, “I know how deep the wounds are caused by my sinful and selfish actions,” and expressed hope that God would “lift a sinner out of the deep pit of sin.”
