Eleanor Donaldson, wife of former Northern Ireland unionist leader Jeffrey Donaldson, has been placed on the sex offenders register for five years. The order was made Friday at Newry Crown Court.
During her husband's trial, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, was found to have aided and abetted his offenses by witnessing the abuse of two girls and failing to intervene. Due to mental health issues, she faced a fact-finding hearing rather than a criminal conviction.
In addition to the sex offenders register, Judge Paul Ramsey issued a three-year supervision and treatment order. Being on the register mandates strict reporting and lifestyle rules managed by police. Both victims in the case were present in court for the hearing.
Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, a prominent politician until his arrest two years ago, led the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2021 to 2024. He resigned as DUP leader and gave up his seat in the U.K. House of Commons, which he held since 1997, following his arrest. He was convicted in June of rape, gross indecency, and indecent assault charges involving two girls between 1985 and 2008. He had denied the allegations.