The former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland, Jeffrey Donaldson, appeared before the Newry court this Tuesday for the start of the judicial process against him, after he pleaded not guilty in September 2024 to 18 charges, including 13 of sexual assault, one of rape, and four others for gross indecency.
With the selection and empaneling of the jury in the Newry court, in the south of Northern Ireland, the trial has begun for events that, according to the prosecution, would affect two alleged victims and would have occurred between 1985 and 2006, as reported by the BBC.
The wife of the former unionist leader, Eleanor Donaldson, is also listed as a defendant in the proceedings, accused of allegedly collaborating in the cover-up of the abuses attributed to her husband. However, she will not be present at the hearing due to her health condition and, if she were ultimately found guilty, she would not be imprisoned.
The couple was arrested on March 28 and, a day later, Donaldson resigned as leader of the DUP, a position he had held since 2021. He also resigned his seat as Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley in the general elections held four months later. Following his departure, the party leadership fell to Gavin Robinson, MP for Belfast East.