Jeffrey Donaldson pictured outside Newry Crown Court. PA
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The jury today heard audio recordings of Donaldson’s interviews with police following his arrest in 2024.
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8 Jun
FORMER DUP LEADER Jeffrey Donaldson repeatedly denied claims of sexual abuse against two alleged victims during police interviews.
A court heard when the circumstances of an allegation of rape were put to the ex-MP by a detective, he responded: “I’m sorry, but I can’t get my head around this notion.”
Donaldson accepted that he had apologised to one of the alleged victims at a meeting, but stated that this was because she had felt “uncomfortable”.
He also said he did “not accept the picture that is being painted” during the interviews.
Donaldson’s trial over historical sexual offences at Newry Crown Court on Monday heard a series of audio recordings of his interviews with police following his arrest in 2024.
Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.
The charges include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a time period between 1985 and 2008 involving two alleged victims.
Complainant A and B have both previously given evidence at the sexual offences trial.
The two women both allege they were abused as children.
Eleanor Donaldson, 60, from Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending.
She is facing a trial of the facts and is not participating in the proceedings.
On Monday, the jury of five women and seven men heard that Donaldson had been interviewed by police for four and a half hours following his arrest in the early hours of 28 March 2024.
Donaldson, wearing a blue suit, sat in the dock at the back of the court while the recordings were played.
The interview at Antrim PSNI station began with the former DUP leader confirming his name and date of birth.
Asked at the beginning if he wanted to say anything in relation to the alleged offences, he replied “No.”
When asked if he had put his hands down the pants of Complainant B, he responded “No”.
The detective said: “Has anything remotely like that ever happened before with her?”
Donaldson said: “No.”
When the detective said the complainant had alleged Donaldson pulled her legs apart with her two feet, he again said “no.”
When it was put to him that the alleged victim had said he was a heavy breather, Donaldson said: “Why would I be a heavy breather? I’ve never had asthma.”
When the rape allegation was put to him, he responded: “That did not happen. The answer to that is absolutely no.”
He added: “I’m sorry but I can’t get my head around this notion.
“This is not anything that is something that has ever happened, would not happen.
“That is not a situation that we would have thought in any way was appropriate.”
Turning to another alleged incident where Complainant B alleges Donaldson played with her breasts when she was of secondary school age, he again denied the actions.
He said: “There was nothing of an inappropriate nature in terms of breasts exposed or anything like that.”
The police interview then turned to a meeting between Complainant B, Jeffrey Donaldson and David and Linda Hoy, the founders of the Christian Family Centre in Armoy in the 1990s.
The court previously heard B had stayed at the centre as a teenager after developing a problem with drugs.
Donaldson said he had been contacted by Mr Hoy about things B was “uncomfortable with”.
He said: “I was happy to have a chat.”
At no stage did anybody allege any of the kind of incidents you have mentioned
He said: “At no stage did anybody allege any of the kind of incidents you have mentioned.”
He said following the meeting, himself and B “both embraced and that was the end of it”.
Donaldson responded: “All of the issues you’ve put to me this afternoon were not mentioned to me.”
Asked if the conversation with B had involved an apology, Donaldson said: “I’m sure it did…if our relationship was not good then I was sorry that was the case.”
Another police interview related to allegations made by Complainant A.
Asked if he had put his hand up her blouse as a child and rubbed her breasts, he responded “Oh no.”
“Have you ever put your hand up her top at any age?”, the detective asked.
Donaldson said “no.”
The detective said the complainant had claimed “this was done so casually and became so frequent it became almost normalised.”
He said: “No, absolutely not.”
Donaldson also denied in the interview an allegation that he had put his tongue in Complainant A’s mouth and moved it around.
Asked if he had tried to pass the alleged incident off as a joke, he said: “That did not happen and I would have no reason to do that.”
The court has previously heard about an allegation that Donaldson had “perched” over the top of Complainant A when she was a child, using a light to look at her “private parts”.
In his first police interview, Donaldson raised the incide…
Read the full article at TheJournal.ie →📄Source document: Judge Paul Ramsey's instructions to the jury
11 reports
RTÉ NewsState / PublicCenter2 days agoThe jury in the Jeffrey Donaldson sex offences trial has resumed deliberations after spending three hours and ten minutes in the jury room yesterday. The former DUP leader faces 18 charges, including one count of rape, with allegations spanning from 1985 to 2008. Two complainants allege they were abused as children. Donaldson denies the charges. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, is a co-defendant accused of five counts of aiding and abetting her husband's alleged offenses. However, she is subject to a non-criminal process due to concerns about her mental health. She cannot be found guilty but canbe
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced summary of the ongoing legal proceedings without apparent bias toward either the defendant or the complainants. It presents facts neutrally, including details about the charges, the defendants' denials, and the specific legal status of the co-defendant.
TheJournal.ieIndependentCenter2 days agoA jury in the sex offences trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has resumed deliberations at Newry Crown Court. Donaldson faces 18 historical charges, including one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency spanning from 1985 to 2008. He has pleaded not guilty, and two complainants have provided evidence alleging childhood abuse. Donaldson gave two days of testimony during the trial.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a factual account of the ongoing legal proceedings without apparent ideological framing. It reports on the judicial process, the charges, and the trial details neutrally, with no evident slant toward either the defendant or the prosecution. The language remains objective, and no
Official sources cited
- court Judge Paul Ramsey's instructions to the jury
The Irish TimesIndependent🔒Center2 days agoThe jury in the trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson for child sex offenses is resuming deliberations after failing to reach a verdict. The trial involves multiple charges against Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor, relating to alleged abuse of two women during their childhoods. Judge Paul Ramsey highlighted the conflicting accounts presented by the defendants and the complainants.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a factual summary of the legal proceedings without apparent bias. It reports on the status of the trial, the charges, and the judicial guidance provided to the jury, presenting information neutrally without emphasizing any particular perspective or using loaded language.
Official sources cited
- court Judge Paul Ramsey's directions to the jury
TheJournal.ieIndependentCenter3 days ago Jury begins deliberations in Jeffrey Donaldson sex offences trialA jury has begun deliberations in the sexual offences trial of Jeffrey Donaldson, a former DUP leader. Donaldson, who is accused of 18 alleged offences spanning from 1985 to 2008, has pleaded not guilty. The charges include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. The trial took place at Newry Crown Court, where the judge instructed the jury not to be influenced by sympathy or prejudice and emphasized the need for the prosecution to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a factual account of the trial proceedings without apparent bias. It reports on the legal process, including the judge's instructions to the jury, and does not exhibit loaded language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the procedural
RTÉ NewsState / PublicCenter4 days ago Women in Donaldson case 'not reliable enough', jury toldIn the trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, the defense argued that two women alleging childhood sexual abuse by him are not reliable enough to secure a guilty verdict. The defense lawyer emphasized significant issues with the complainants' accounts and urged the jury to focus solely on the evidence presented.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal arguments made by both sides without overtly favoring one perspective. It reports the defense’s claims regarding the reliability of the complainants but does not editorialize or present biased language. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the legal process and the
TheJournal.ieIndependentCenter5 days ago Jeffrey Donaldson trial told consequences of alleged abuse 'cannot be ignored any longer'The trial of Jeffrey Donaldson, former DUP leader, has entered the closing speeches stage. Donaldson faces 18 alleged offences, including rape and indecent assault, spanning from 1985 to 2008. Prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh KC highlighted the 'pain and hurt' of the two complainants, emphasizing the emotional toll of the trial on them. Both complainants allege they were abused as children. Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, is undergoing a separate trial of the facts due to being deemed unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced summary of the legal proceedings without overtly favoring either side. It reports on the prosecution's emphasis on the emotional impact on the complainants while also noting the defendant's plea of not guilty and the ongoing nature of the trial. There is no evident sl
RTÉ NewsState / PublicCenter5 days ago No reason for Donaldson complainants to lie, court toldTwo women who allege they were sexually abused by former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson as children testified in his trial at Newry Crown Court. The trial is nearing its conclusion as Rosemary Walsh KC delivers a closing speech to the jury. Both women provided evidence during the trial but cannot be identified for legal reasons. Donaldson faces 18 charges, including one count of rape, related to the two complainants. Walsh discussed the emotional journey of the complainants, noting that one felt responsible for not coming forward earlier upon learning of the other's allegations. She emphasized a
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual details of the ongoing trial without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from the lawyer representing the defendant, but does not present additional commentary or bias. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the legal proceedings and the testimonies
TheJournal.ieIndependentCenter6 days ago Defence closes case in Jeffrey Donaldson sex offences trialThe defence in Jeffrey Donaldson's trial over historical sex offences has closed its case. Donaldson, a former DUP leader, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences spanning from 1985 to 2008. Two alleged victims have provided testimony, alleging abuse as children. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, faces a separate trial of the facts related to potential mental health issues, which cannot lead to a criminal conviction. Both defendants have presented their cases, with Donaldson testifying earlier in the trial.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual details of the legal proceedings without overtly favoring either side. It reports on the closure of the defense case, the charges, and the testimonies provided by the complainants and defendants. There is no evident editorializing, loaded language, or one-sided sourcing.
Official sources cited
- court Jeffrey Donaldson's barrister Kieran Vaughan KC
- court Eleanor Donaldson's barrister Ian Turkington KC
RTÉ NewsState / PublicCenter6 days ago Defence closes case in Donaldson trialThe defense has closed its case in the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor Donaldson, who are facing multiple sexual offense charges. The pair have pleaded not guilty to the allegations, which involve claims of abuse by Donaldson between 1985 and 2008, with his wife allegedly assisting. Legal arguments took place on the fifteenth day of the trial, and the prosecution is set to deliver its closing submission. Eleanor Donaldson, deemed medically unfit for a conventional trial, is undergoing a 'trial of the facts,' where the jury will assess whether she committed the offenses without
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced summary of the trial proceedings without apparent ideological framing. It reports on the legal process, the charges, and the procedural details without using loaded language or emphasizing one side over another.
Official sources cited
- other Jeffrey Donaldson arriving at Newry Crown Court
The Irish TimesIndependent🔒Center9 days ago Jeffrey Donaldson denies meeting with accuser was to ‘nip in the bud’ abuse allegationsJeffrey Donaldson, a former DUP leader, has denied that he met with one of his accusers in the late 1990s to 'nip in the bud' allegations of sexual abuse. During his cross-examination at Newry Crown Court, Donaldson refuted claims that the meeting was intended to address serious allegations against him. He stated that the Christian minister who organized the meeting, David Hoy, was mistaken in his testimony regarding the purpose of the encounter. Donaldson emphasized that the meeting was a positive experience and that he attended willingly.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal proceedings and statements from both the defendant and the prosecution without overtly favoring either side. It reports directly on the courtroom dialogue and does not include commentary or biased language that would indicate a clear ideological leaning.
Official sources cited
- court Jeffrey Donaldson's testimony at Newry Crown Court
- court Prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh's cross-examination of Donaldson
TheJournal.ieIndependentCenter13 days ago Jeffrey Donaldson told police he ‘can’t get head round’ allegations of sexual abuseFormer DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson is on trial at Newry Crown Court for historical sexual offences dating back to 1985–2008. During police interviews, Donaldson denied allegations of sexual abuse against two alleged victims, stating he 'can't get my head round' the accusations. He admitted to apologising to one of the alleged victims after she expressed feeling uncomfortable but denied the overall narrative presented by investigators. Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges, including one count of rape and multiple counts of indecent assault and gross indecency. Both complainants have已
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual details of the trial without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from Donaldson and mentions the nature of the charges and his responses to them without apparent bias.
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