Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson to be sentenced for child sexual abuse – latest updates

Donaldson sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex abuseJeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) in Northern Ireland, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for historical sexual offences against two women when they were children.Donaldon, who led the DUP from 2021 until 2024, was convicted in June of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency for crimes committed between 1985 and 2008.Key events6m agoDonaldson 'doubled down on his denials' after conviction, court hears11m agoDonaldson sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex abuse16m agoVictim said she felt 'ashamed' and 'dirty' as a result of the abuse she suffered, court hears30m agoSentencing hearing begins51m agoDonaldson arrives at court in prison van52m agoFormer DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson to be sentenced for child sexual abuseThe sentencing hearing has now ended, after about 20 minutes.Judge Paul Ramsey told the court Jeffrey Donaldson had been assessed as of medium likelihood of reoffending.Ramsey sentenced Donaldson to 11 years in prison for the offences committed against Complainant B and four years for the offences committed against Complainant A, which will run consecutively for a total of 15 years.Donaldson 'doubled down on his denials' after conviction, court hearsRamsay said Donaldson had “doubled down on his denials” since his conviction.“There has not been, and doubtless will not be, one word of regret, apology or shame from this man to at least provide his victims with some crumb of comfort,” he said.He added Donaldson had experienced a “catastrophic descent into disgrace”.Donaldson sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex abuseJeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) in Northern Ireland, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for historical sexual offences against two women when they were children.Donaldon, who led the DUP from 2021 until 2024, was convicted in June of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency for crimes committed between 1985 and 2008.Victim said she felt 'ashamed' and 'dirty' as a result of the abuse she suffered, court hearsRamsay read some extracts of a victim impact statement from Complainant A, who said she found the trial “re-traumatising”.She said she wanted the court to understand that the impact of the abuse she suffered “did not end when the abuse ended”.She said she felt “ashamed” and “dirty”, and that she was carrying “enormous anger”. Complainant B, in her statement, said that while she puts on a brave face for those around her, “every day I pray that God will let me die”.Rory CarrollDuring his trial, Donaldson wore on his jacket lapel the Ichthys, a fish symbol that denotes a public declaration of Christian faith.He wrote copious notes during witness testimony and seldom showed emotion, not even when it was his turn to testify, or when he was convicted.Flanked by two custody officers on Thursday, he appeared impassive as the judge outlined the case in advance of passing sentence.Sentencing hearing beginsThe sentencing hearing has begun, with judge Paul Ramsey delivering his remarks to the court.He described it as a “disturbing and disquieting case”.Lisa O’CarrollAt Donaldson’s pre-sentencing hearing last month, prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh spoke of various tariffs for the offences, several of which carried a maximum sentence of two years.But other offences carried a maximum sentence of between 10 and 14 years under historical tariffs for crimes, she told the court.She said historical legislation did not differentiate between a child and an adult victim in all the counts, so the disparity in age between Donaldson and his victims should be considered an “aggravating” factor in sentencing.She said Complainant B was “nine or 10” during some of the offending by Donaldson when he was 25 or 26 years old. She had described how she felt “sick” when he abused her and “wanted to scream out” but thought it was her fault.Complainant B suffered other types of sexual assault by Donaldson when she was as young as “seven or eight”.Read more:Donaldson arrives at court in prison vanA prison van believed to be carrying Jeffrey Donaldson has arrived at Newry crown court.He was being held at Maghaberry prison in his former parliamentary constituency of Lagan Valley in County Antrim awaiting sentencing.A prison van, believed to be carrying former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, arrives at Newry crown court ahead of his sentencing. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PAFormer DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson to be sentenced for child sexual abuseJeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) in Northern Ireland, will be sentenced today for a string of sex offences against two women when they were children.Donaldson, 63, will appear in Newry crown court after being found guilty earlier this year of 18 counts of sexual abuse including one count of rape against the women. The offences were committed between 1985 and 2008.Extracts of the victim impact statements were read out in court by prosecution counsel Rosemary Walsh during a pre-sentencing hearing last month. One of the victims, Complainant B, described how the abuse she suffered as a child “affected her every day” and sometimes she struggled so much she “wishes she could die”. Complainant A wrote in her statement that she felt her childhood had been “stolen from her” and this had led to feelings of shame and anger.Kieran Vaughan, mitigating for Donaldson, said during that hearing that the former Lagan Valley MP was a man of “previous good character” who “did achieve significant things”.Court artist drawing of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson appearing at Newry crown court on 25 September 2026. Photograph: Elizabeth Cook/PABut he added: “These convictions obliterate all those achievements he has made in his life.”Judge Paul Ramsey previously told Donaldson that he would face a “lengthy sentence”.Donaldson led the DUP from 2021 until 2024 when he was charged with historical sexual offences. He denied the charges but a jury convicted him in June of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency.Since his conviction, he has been stripped of his knighthood and removed from the privy council.Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor, 60, was found unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds. She faced a trial of the facts, which can test evidence but not result in a criminal conviction, and was found to have aided and abetted her husband’s offending.She cannot be given a prison sentence but could be given a treatment order or an absolute discharge. The judge is due to decide on this at a later date.She has lodged an appeal to have the court conclusions overturned.