Jury To View Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s Police Interview As Trial Enters Third Week

The jury in the trial of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will be shown a recording of his police interview when proceedings resume on Monday morning at Newry Crown Court. A recorded police interview with his wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, is also scheduled to be played as the case moves into its third week.

The 63-year-old politician has pleaded not guilty to all 18 charges against him, including one count of rape. Sir Jeffrey denies allegations of gross indecency and indecent assault said to have been carried out against one complainant between 1999 and 2008, and denies other allegations, some dating back to 1985, made by a second complainant.

Lady Eleanor Donaldson denies five charges relating to alleged aiding and abetting. She has been found unfit to stand a conventional criminal trial on mental health grounds and is therefore the subject of a trial of the facts; she is not taking an active part in the criminal proceedings.

Both complainants in the case reported their allegations to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in March 2024. The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 1985 and 2008.

Legal note: All charges are allegations. The defendants deny the offences and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The playing of the recorded interviews will form part of the evidence the jury will hear as the trial continues at Newry Crown Court. Court reporting restrictions and the sensitive nature of the allegations mean some details are reported in limited form to protect both complainants.