Court: Lady Donaldson was aware of alleged sexual abuse

Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is on trial for 18 counts of sexual abuse, including one rape charge. The court heard that Lady Donaldson was aware of an alleged incident. Donaldson denies all allegations.

A trial is underway in Northern Ireland of former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who faces 18 counts of sexual abuse, including one rape charge. During court proceedings, it emerged that Lady Donaldson was allegedly aware of a specific sexual abuse incident involving bright light.

Evidence presented in court suggests that the alleged incident took place and that Sir Jeffrey's wife was informed of what happened. Donaldson himself categorically denies all allegations against him.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was one of Northern Ireland's most influential politicians — he led the DUP until March 2024, when he stepped down shortly before the allegations became public. The trial has attracted widespread attention both in the UK and Ireland, given his prominent political profile and long-standing role in Northern Ireland's political landscape.