Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Eleanor have been convicted of historical sexual offenses against two children. The verdicts were delivered on Monday, June 22, 2026, at Newry Crown Court after a four-week trial.
Jeffrey Donaldson, who represented Lagan Valley for 27 years and held the title of Privy Councillor, was found guilty on 18 counts. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was convicted on five charges of aiding and abetting.
The trial heard evidence from two complainants, referred to as Complainant A and Complainant B, who were children at the time of the offenses. The incidents spanned 23 years, starting when the complainants were children and continuing over two decades.
During the trial, the court heard detailed accounts of the alleged abuse. Complainant A testified via video link, describing the impact of the abuse. Complainant B recounted listening to Donaldson's breathing during assaults and finding solace in an imaginary friend due to her inability to articulate her experiences.
Jeffrey Donaldson took the witness stand for two days, asserting his innocence and claiming the allegations were lies. He stated that a letter of apology he had written pertained to flirtatious messages with a constituent, not sexual abuse. However, prosecutor Rosemary Walsh KC countered his testimony, asserting that he was the one telling