NOS News•today, 2:35 PM
Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the pro-British DUP in Northern Ireland, has been charged with multiple sex offences, including rape. Today he had to appear in court for the first time. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, is charged with complicity in four cases.
A total of eleven charges are pending against 61-year-old Donaldson, from two people. The crimes are said to have taken place between 1985 and 2006: it concerns one rape case and ten other charges of complicity in crimes. Donaldson and his wife have been released on £350 bail.
The trial continues on May 22.
‘Strongly contest’
It was previously announced that Donaldson had resigned from his position as leader after being accused of sexual misconduct. The Northern Irish DUP also suspended him as a member. Donaldson and his wife were arrested and questioned in late March.
Donaldson said it involved events that happened some time ago. In a letter to party leaders, he said he would “vigorously dispute” the allegations.
Donaldson has led the Protestant Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since 2021. Before that, he served in the Northern Ireland parliament for almost 25 years. The DUP lost to Catholic-Republican Sinn Féin in the 2022 elections.
