Sir Jeffrey Donaldson tells jury he is ‘crystal clear’ rape allegation is false

By Jonathan McCambridge (Press Association)

Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said he is “crystal clear” that an allegation he raped an alleged victim when she was a child is “simply not true”.

Donaldson also told his sexual offences trial that an allegation that he had touched the same woman’s breasts was “just unbelievable”.

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 time period between 1985 and 2008 involving two alleged victims.

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

Both women 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 on mental health grounds.

Defence barrister Kieran Vaughan KC called Donaldson as a witness in the trial at Newry Crown Court shortly after 10.30am on Thursday.

Wearing a blue suit and red tie, he was sworn in after entering the witness box and confirmed his identity.

He told the jury he had developed an interest in politics at the age of 18 and was first elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly at the age of 22.

He said he was first elected to Parliament in 1997 and had been involved in negotiations before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Mr Vaughan asked him if he accepted any of the allegations made by Complainant B, the older of the two alleged victims.

Donaldson said: “No.”

The barrister asked the same question about allegations made by Complainant A, and Donaldson again said “no”.

The court has previously heard evidence about a letter Donaldson wrote to Complainant A in June 2020, where he had told of his “regret” over the “hurt, pain and distress I have caused”.

The defence has previously told the court the letter does not relate to any alleged abuse, but is about another matter.

Donaldson read extracts of the letter to the court.

Mr Vaughan asked him if the letter referred to incidents of abuse.

Donaldson said “Absolutely not.”

He added: “This is not the reason why this letter was written.”

The barrister turned to the allegations made by Complainant B, who claims she was raped by Donaldson.

Donaldson told the court: “It just didn’t happen, I am absolutely crystal clear about that.”

“It is not something I would ever have done, it is just simply not true.”

Mr Vaughan turned to another incident where it is alleged Donaldson had lifted the girl’s top and touched her breasts.

Donaldson said he did remember an occasion being alone with the girl, but said they had just been talking.

He said he got up and left when he heard his wife, Eleanor, call his name.

Mr Vaughan asked if there had been any inappropriate behaviour.

He said: “Absolutely none whatsoever

“There was nothing I would have done that could be misconstrued.”

He said the idea was “just unbelievable”.

Donaldson also rejected any suggestion that his wife had witnessed the abuse but did not intervene.

He said: “She would have been very angry, she would have intervened immediately.”

He added: “I am absolutely clear, there is no situation where that happened.

“I would not have been doing that.

“It is just unbelievable.”

Asked about other allegations of inappropriately touching the same alleged victim, he said: “Absolutely not.”

The court has previously heard that Donaldson had met with Complainant B in the 1990s after she attended the Christian Family Centre in Armoy.

Donaldson said at the meeting he had said he was sorry if Complainant B had felt “uncomfortable”.

Mr Vaughan asked if any allegation of sexual abuse was put to him at the meeting.

He said: “No, not ever, those allegations had never been put to me.”

He was asked if he had been apologising for abuse.

Donaldson said: “No, because there had been no abuse and that was not the nature of the meeting.”

The barrister then turned to allegations made by Complainant A.

Asked if he had ever kissed her on the mouth as a child, Donaldson said: “Why would I kiss a child using my tongue?

“That is just ridiculous, that just did not ever happen.”

The trial continues.

(Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson in the witness box at Newry Crown Court)