Alleged rape of girl ‘simply not true’, Jeffrey Donaldson tells trial
Summary
Jeffrey Donaldson, former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, denies all allegations of sexual abuse, including rape, made against him in a trial at Newry crown court. He says the claims are untrue and emotionally rejected them during his testimony. The trial involves charges from incidents said to have happened between 1985 and 2008 and includes two women accusing him of abuse.Key Facts
- Jeffrey Donaldson faces 18 charges, including rape, indecent assault, and gross indecency.
- The alleged abuse involves two women, called witnesses A and B, who claim they were abused as children.
- Donaldson, 63, denies all the allegations and says the claims are "simply not true."
- His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, denies charges of helping him and is deemed unfit to stand trial due to mental health issues.
- The abuse is said to have occurred between 1985 and 2008.
- In court, Donaldson explained a letter he wrote expressing regret, saying it was about another issue, not the abuse allegations.
- Donaldson said police arrested him and his wife early one morning in 2024, which surprised them.
- He insists his wife was unaware of any abuse and would never have agreed to or supported it.
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