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Donaldson case delayed as wife 'unfit to stand trial'
Rape-accused Jeffrey Donaldson faces long 18-month wait for trial
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson faces an 18-month wait before he defends himself against a raft of sex assault charges.
The former DUP chief and his co-accused wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson are due at Newry Magistrates Court on Wednesday for their first appearance in what is going to be a long and drawn-out process.
Speculation that given the status of the accused the case could be fast-tracked has been dismissed.
Sir Jeffrey is facing a single charge of rape and a number of others of sexual abuse. His wife is charged with aiding and abetting in a number of the alleged offences.
The couple are not allowed to contact each other as part of their bail conditions and neither have been seen in public since their arrest, with Sir Jeffrey in London and Lady Eleanor holed up at the family home in Dromore.
https://www.sundayworld.com/news/northern-ireland-news/rape-accused-jeffrey-donaldson-faces-long-18-month-wait-for-trial/a1053184747.html
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson faces an 18-month wait before he defends himself against a raft of sex assault charges.
The former DUP chief and his co-accused wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson are due at Newry Magistrates Court on Wednesday for their first appearance in what is going to be a long and drawn-out process.
Speculation that given the status of the accused the case could be fast-tracked has been dismissed.
Sir Jeffrey is facing a single charge of rape and a number of others of sexual abuse. His wife is charged with aiding and abetting in a number of the alleged offences.
The couple are not allowed to contact each other as part of their bail conditions and neither have been seen in public since their arrest, with Sir Jeffrey in London and Lady Eleanor holed up at the family home in Dromore.
https://www.sundayworld.com/news/northern-ireland-news/rape-accused-jeffrey-donaldson-faces-long-18-month-wait-for-trial/a1053184747.html
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Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged sex offences at Newry Crown Court.
His co-accused, wife Eleanor Donaldson, pleaded not guilty to three offences of aiding and abetting her husband in alleged non-recent offences.
Two other charges against Eleanor Donaldson will be considered by Judge Paul Ramsey ahead of a case review on October 25.
It means the pair will face trial at Crown Court with Donaldson facing 18 charges of alleged sexual offences including 17 against children.
Eleanor Donaldson is facing three charges of aiding and abetting alleged child sexual abuse. The jury trial relates to non-recent criminal offences they are alleged to have committed over a 20-year period.
The case has been brought against the Donaldsons by the PPS following accusations made by two individuals who are granted lifetime anonymity.
Jeffrey Donaldson, 61, and Eleanor Donaldson, 58, were formally named to police on March 7, 2024 by an alleged victim, and were arrested and charged three weeks later.
At their first court appearance on April 24, 2024, in Newry Magistrate’s Court, Donaldson was read a total of 11 charges and Eleanor Donaldson was read four. Each confirmed they understood the charges.
Two months later on July 2, the PPS added a further eight charges to the case with Donaldson then facing a total 18 charges of non recent sexual nature and Eleanor Donaldson, then facing five charges including aiding and abetting her co-accused on four occasions and one charge of child neglect.
He has been bailed to his London flat and her bail address is the family home outside Dromore, Co Down.
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/jeffrey-donaldson-wife-eleanor-enter-29902594
The trial of former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson on sex abuse charges is to be delayed.
It was due to begin on 24 March but Newry Crown Court has been told Mrs Donaldson, 58, is "unfit to stand trial" at present.
No details of her illness were given in court.
The court heard medical evidence has been submitted by Mrs Donaldson's doctor.
Her condition is described as "challenging".
A prosecution lawyer said the delay will upset the two alleged victims in the case.
Describing them as "vulnerable complainants", she said they will be "emotionally affected" by the development.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyve9p8v23ro