Jeffrey Donaldson, the ex-leader of the DUP, is set to stand in court on Wednesday facing increased charges related to historical sexual offences. Aged 61, Mr Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor Donaldson (58), both residents of Dromore, Co Down, will see their case proceed in Newry Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary examination.
This proceeding decides if the evidence presented validates the case’s progression to Crown Court. The Donaldsons are anticipated to be present at this hearing. Donaldson was earlier charged with 11 counts of rape, indecency with a child and nine instances of indecent assault against a female, all happening between the years 1985 and 2006.
Post reviewing the evidence file, a routine procedure by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), the charges against him have been escalated to 18. The one-time MP for Lagan Valley now faces a single rape charge, four charges of gross indecency, and 13 counts of indecent assault. Donaldson’s legal representative, John McBurney, previously stated his client would fight these charges.
On the other hand, the charges Mrs. Donaldson will have to answer have been increased from four to five. Initially, she was charged with assisting in rape, helping indecent assault, and two counts of cruelty to a person aged 16 years or below, all incidents occurring between 1985 and 2004.