Jeffrey Donaldson denies historical sex offence charges in Newry trial

Jeffrey Donaldson denied all 18 historical sex offence charges against two women as he took the stand at Newry Crown Court, insisting there had been no abuse. The former Democratic Unionist Party leader faces one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency, allegations that span a period from 1985 to 2008.

The court has heard that the two complainants, referred to as Complainant A and Complainant B, say the alleged abuse happened when they were children. Donaldson, 63, was asked by his defence barrister whether he accepted any of the allegations made against him and answered no to each one. The jury was sworn in on May 27, 2026, and the trial has moved through evidence from both complainants before Donaldson’s own testimony.

The case carries a political weight far beyond the courtroom. Donaldson was one of Northern Ireland’s best-known unionist figures and the longest-serving lawmaker in the British parliament when he was arrested in the early hours of March 28, 2024, and charged later that month. He immediately resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party, turning a criminal case into a public collapse for the man who had recently projected authority over unionism and government strategy.

That authority was still visible on January 30, 2024, when Donaldson announced the DUP had secured enough changes to the Windsor Framework to end its boycott of Stormont and restore devolved government. Less than two months later, he was in police custody and the party he had steered back into power-sharing was confronting one of the deepest crises in its recent history. For a movement built on discipline, representation and moral certainty, the contrast has been stark.

The prosecution has also alleged that Donaldson wrote to one complainant, saying he was seeking forgiveness and help from God. Court reporting has said he has denied the letter was an apology for the alleged offences, and the trial has also heard an allegation that he met one of the women at a Christian centre in County Antrim and apologised for what happened in the past.

The Attorney General for Northern Ireland has warned against social-media commentary that could influence jurors and reminded the public that the complainants must remain anonymous. With hearings expected to run through much of June, the case remains both a test of criminal evidence and a reckoning for a figure whose authority once rested on political command and public trust.