Former DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to Stand Trial for Alleged Past Sexual Offences

The former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will face trial for historical sex offences.

Sir Jeffrey, 61, is accused of 18 charges in total—one count of rape, four of gross indecency and 13 of indecent assault—all dating from between 1985 and 2008.

He has previously indicated he will contest the charges.

On Wednesday Sir Jeffrey and his wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 58, appeared for a brief committal hearing before a district judge at Newry Magistrates’ Court.

Lady Eleanor faces five charges of aiding and abetting the alleged offences.

‘Prime Facie Case to Answer’

District Judge Eamonn King said, “I am satisfied on the basis of the papers before the court that there is a prima facie case to answer.”

Judge King said the couple would next appear at Newry Crown Court in September for an arraignment hearing.

Their trial is not expected to take place until next year.

During Wednesday’s hearing Sir Jeffrey was asked if he wanted to say anything in answer to the charges but he replied, “Not at this stage.”

Sir Jeffrey was originally accused, in April, of 11 charges but following a review by Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service that number has gone up to 18.

There are two alleged victims but their ages and genders have not been given.

The couple were released on bail pending their trial.

Sir Jeffrey had been the MP for Lagan Valley—a largely Protestant constituency centred on the town of Lisburn—since 1997.

He originally represented the seat for the Ulster Unionist Party, then led by Sir David Trimble, but in 2004 he defected to the DUP and won the seat for them at the general election the following year.

His majority was cut from 19,000 to 6,000 at the 2019 election, in the midst of the disagreements in Parliament about how Brexit would affect Northern Ireland.

Sir Jeffrey is not standing for Parliament in Thursday’s general election, with the DUP being represented by 32-year-old Jonathan Buckley.

He became the DUP’s leader in 2021 and only weeks before his arrest he led the party back into a power-sharing deal with Sinn Fein at Stormont after two years of political deadlock.

After the allegations were made public Sir Jeffrey resigned from the post and was suspended from the party.

In a letter to officers of the DUP at the time of his resignation, Sir Jeffrey said he would be “strenuously contesting” the charges against him.

Gavin Robinson, who is the DUP’s candidate at Belfast East, is currently leading the party.

PA Media contributed to this report.