Eleanor Donaldson, the wife of the disgraced former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Jeffrey Donaldson, has been placed on the sex offenders' register for aiding and abetting her husband's crimes. The 60-year-old will remain on the register for five years and must also comply with a three-year supervision and treatment order.
Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, was convicted earlier this year of 18 offenses against two victims over a 23-year period. The charges included rape, indecent assault, and gross indecency, occurring between 1985 and 2008. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with half to be served behind bars.
Eleanor Donaldson faced a trial of the facts as she was deemed unfit to participate in a conventional trial due to mental health grounds. During the proceedings, the court heard that she witnessed one assault but did not intervene, instead closing the door behind her. She was found to have committed acts related to five charges, four of which were for aiding and abetting her husband's abuse.
One of the victims reported that Jeffrey Donaldson committed acts including kissing her and putting his tongue in her mouth while she was in primary school, as well as groping her and looking at her naked body. The second victim, also a child at the time, was raped and indecently assaulted on multiple occasions, including once in the presence of Eleanor Donaldson.
