Jury in Jeffrey Donaldson sex offences trial sent home for weekend

By Jonathan McCambridge, Press Association

The jury in the sex offences trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been sent home for the weekend.

The jury of five women and seven men at Newry Crown Court has been considering its verdict for close to seven hours over two days.

Addressing them on Friday afternoon, Judge Paul Ramsey said they should “return fresh after the weekend”.

The ex-MP, 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 period between 1985 and 2008 involving two alleged victims.

Complainants A and B have both given evidence at the trial.

Both women allege they were abused as children.

Donaldson spent two days giving evidence during the trial.

His wife, 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 on mental health grounds.

The trial of the facts will test the evidence in the case but cannot result in a criminal conviction.