A judge at Newry Magistrates’ Court in Northern Ireland has ruled that there is sufficient evidence to try former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson for 18 allegations of sexual offences.
The 61-year-old was previously charged with 11 offences relating to sexual misconduct but was yesterday charged with another seven counts bringing the total number of charges he will face to 18.
Donaldson’s 58-year-old wife Eleanor Donaldson is now facing five charges in relation to aiding and abetting in relation to the alleged offences her husband is facing after initially being charged with four alleged offences.
The offences in respect of Jeffrey Donaldson are alleged to have taken place between the years 1985 and 2006 involving two alleged victims.
The charges relate to a single count of rape, four counts of gross indecency and 13 counts of indecent assault.
The five charges faced by Eleanor Donaldson a are one count of aiding and abetting rape, three charges of aiding and abetting indecent assault as well as one court of cruelty to a person under 16 years alleged to have taken place between 1985 and 2008 also involving two alleged victims.
Donaldson immediately tendered his resignation as the DUP’s leader after the original set of charges were made known but as previously reported by the Sunday World his resignation was subsequently suspended – effectively making him an independent MP. Political sources told the paper that Sir Jeffrey is “likely to stay in place” as he maintains his innocence.
His resignation came on the 28th of March last after a day of questioning.