Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years for child sex offences
publishers 29articles 43first reported 15 Oct, 05:49 UTCdeveloping since 15 Oct · 13 editions
Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in prison for sexual offences against two girls committed between 1985 and 2008.
A jury convicted Donaldson, 63, in June of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency. At Newry Crown Court, Judge Paul Ramsey imposed an 11-year sentence for the rape of one complainant and four years for offences against the other, with the terms to run consecutively. Donaldson will remain on the sex offender register indefinitely.
The Lady Chief Justice’s Office of Northern Ireland said he is expected to serve half the sentence under remission rules that apply because the offences predated a change allowing judges to determine the period spent in custody.
Ramsey described the case as “disturbing and disquieting” and said Donaldson had shown no remorse or empathy, instead maintaining his denials after conviction. The judge praised the two women’s courage and determination in bringing him to justice. Their victim-impact statements described lasting trauma, including an inability to trust others and feelings of shame and anger.
Donaldson, who led the DUP from 2021 until resigning after he was charged in March 2024, denies wrongdoing and plans to appeal his convictions. The DUP condemned what it called his “vile and disgusting crimes” and said he deserved the lengthy sentence.
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Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 6 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 24 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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