Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is to appeal his child sex abuse convictions, his solicitor has confirmed. Donaldson, 63, was found guilty last month by a jury at Newry Crown Court of all 18 charges, which related to two women when they were children.
His solicitor, John McBurney, stated on Friday that appeal papers had been lodged with the relevant court office. If granted, the appeal is expected to be heard in the autumn at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast, with the aim of having the convictions overturned.
The convictions included one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault, and four counts of gross indecency. One victim, referred to as Complainant A, was subjected to kissing and groping by Donaldson when she was of primary school age. Complainant B was raped by Donaldson when she was also in primary school, and indecently assaulted on nine occasions, including once in the presence of his wife, Eleanor Donaldson.
Eleanor Donaldson, 60, was found to have aided and abetted her husband's offenses by turning a blind eye, though she was too ill to stand trial. She reportedly witnessed some of the abuse and, instead of intervening, would walk away and close the door.
Donaldson, who was first elected to Parliament in 1997 and served as the longest-serving Northern Ireland MP representing Lagan Valley, was arrested in March 2024. He maintained his innocence, telling police and the jury that the allegations were untrue.
Upon his arrest and charging, Donaldson immediately stepped down as leader of the DUP, the largest pro-British unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP has initiated a review, led by former senior police officer Jim Gamble, to examine what the party knew about Donaldson's conduct. The Northern Ireland Assembly has also launched a review into alleged misconduct by Donaldson during his tenure as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 2003 to 2010.
Earlier in July, Donaldson was removed from the Privy Council after requesting his name be removed from the list of advisors to the King.
Donaldson is currently being held at Maghaberry Prison in Lagan Valley awaiting sentencing.