Jeffrey Donaldson sex crime convictions ‘obliterate’ achievements, court told

By Jonathan McCambridge (Press Association)

The convictions of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson for sex offences “obliterate” all the achievements in his political life, his barrister has told a court.

During a pre-sentence hearing at Newry Crown Court on Friday, Donaldson appeared for the first time since his conviction in June.

His two victims were also in the courtroom.

Judge Paul Ramsey told the ex-MP that he would be sentenced next month.

Donaldson, 63, was convicted of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.

The offences were committed between 1985 and 2008.

The former Lagan Valley MP has been in Maghaberry prison awaiting sentencing since then.

His wife Eleanor Donaldson, 60, was found to have aided and abetted his crimes after a trial of the facts, which was granted on mental health grounds.

During Jeffrey Donaldson’s trial earlier this year, the two victims gave evidence against him.

Complainant A gave evidence of inappropriate touching and kissing by Donaldson and an incident where he used a light to examine her genitals.

Complainant B told the trial she had been raped as a child of primary school age by Donaldson and later sexually assaulted by him.

Donaldson had denied the offences but the jury convicted him of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency.

During the hearing on Friday, Donaldson appeared in the dock wearing a navy suit and a pink tie.

Judge Paul Ramsey told the court he had received written submissions as well as victim impact statements from the two victims and a pre-sentence report on Jeffrey Donaldson.

Prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh KC told the hearing she would outline the “salient facts” in the case.

She pointed out that the offending against both victims had begun when they were of primary school age.

She went through the 18 offences, setting out the starting points for sentencing.

Referring to the victim impact statement of Complainant B, she said she had described the trial process as a “terrible experience”.

She said the abuse B had suffered had affected “every day of every relationship she has had since then”.

She said the woman wished on a daily basis she could die and had guilt about not reporting the offences to police earlier.

She said that being accused in court of “making it all up” made it worse.

The barrister referred to the victim impact statement of Complainant A who said she feels her “childhood was stolen from her”.

Ms Walsh said the physical impact of the abuse she suffered “affects her sleep and sense of wellbeing on a daily basis” and that she suffers stress and anxiety.

The barrister said with regards to sentencing, there are a “significant” number of aggravating factors in the case.

She said: “The youth of both victims has to be considered to be an aggravating factor.”

She also pointed to the “protracted nature” of the offending which occurred over a number of years.

With regard to the rape offence, she said it could be inferred there was an element of “degree of planning and preparation on a common sense view”.

Jeffrey Donaldson’s barrister Kieran Vaughan KC said he acknowledged “given the nature of the offences that the court will impose a lengthy custodial sentence”.

He said he had “complete confidence” the court would treat Donaldson the same as any other defendant.

He said the former politician was now 63 and a man of “previous good character” and there had been no offending in the past 18 years.

The barrister said that Donaldson “did achieve significant things in his life”.

But he added: “These convictions obliterate all those achievements he has made in his life.”

Mr Vaughan said that is something Donaldson “will have to live with”.

Judge Ramsey said he was not in a position to sentence Donaldson at the moment.

Addressing him in the dock, he said: “I will sentence you as soon as I can next month.”

Since his conviction, Jeffrey Donaldson has been stripped of his knighthood and removed from the Privy Council.

His solicitor has previously confirmed that papers have been lodged for an appeal.

Eleanor Donaldson has lodged an appeal against the outcome of her trial of the facts.

A prison van believed to be carrying former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson leaves Newry Crown Court after a pre-sentence hearing (Photo by PA)