Jeffrey Donaldson, ex-DUP leader, accused of rape and gross indecency with a child
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has been accused of 11 sex offences including rape and gross indecency with a child.
The former Democratic Unionist Party leader appeared in court on Wednesday in Northern Ireland.
He arrived separately to his wife Lady Donaldson, who is charged with aiding and abetting the rape and an indecent assault. The pair stood in the dock together at Newry magistrates’ court.
Wearing a grey suit and green tie, and sitting sometimes with his arms crossed, the veteran unionist spoke only to confirm his name, age and that he understood the charges in front of a packed courtroom where he was accused of abusing two victims.
Sir Jeffrey, who was forced to quit as leader of his party after being charged last month, stood in the dock with his wife of 36 years with a prison officer in between them.
The politician is charged with one count of rape, one count of of gross indecency with or towards a child and nine counts of indecent assault during a period of alleged offending spanning more than 20 years.
Amid a tight security presence, Sir Jeffrey arrived at court just after 9.30am with his solicitor John McBurney and appeared before district judge Eamonn King.
During the eight minute hearing, the court heard Sir Jeffrey was charged with raping on an unknown date between January 1985 and January 1991. The charge states he “had unlawful sexual intercourse” with the alleged victim who “did not consent to it” or Sir Jeffrey was “being reckless as to whether the said person consented”
He is charged with four counts of indecent assault against the same victim that allegedly took place between January 1985 and December 1991.
It is also alleged Sir Jeffrey abused a second victim and committed an act of gross indecency towards a child between January 2005 and December 2006.
He is charged with five indecent assaults against the same victim between December 2004 and January 2006.
Lady Donaldson faces four charged
His wife Lady Donaldson, 58, is facing four charges spanning nearly 10 years relating to the same alleged victims.
She is accused of aiding and abetting the rape and one indecent assault allegedly committed by her husband.
The case will next be heard on May 22, when the defendants do not need to be present.
Sir Jeffrey was released on bail but his conditions have been varied to allow him to speak to his wife.
It was agreed during the hearing that bail conditions prohibiting contact between the couple could be removed.
Veteran unionist will contest charges
The unionist and his wife were arrested on the morning of March 28 when police arrived at his home in Co Down. The couple were taken to Antrim Police Station where they were questioned separately and charged that evening.
The politician was named by the DUP after the party’s chairman received a letter from Sir Jeffrey confirming he had been charged with historical offences and that he would be stepping down as leader with immediate effect.
He has been suspended pending the judicial process but an MP and told the party he would be “strenuously contesting” the charges.
