Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson due to be sentenced for child sex offences
The former Lagan Valley MP was convicted in June and is due to be sentenced today
Jeffrey Donaldson, the former DUP leader and Lagan Valley MP who was convicted of 18 sex offences earlier this year, is due to be sentenced later today.
Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of abusing two women when they were children, between 1985 and 2008
Donaldson has been in Maghaberry prison awaiting sentencing since his conviction in June.
What Jeffrey Donaldson was convicted of
A jury convicted Donaldson of 18 offences against two women.
They offences were one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency.
Donaldson denied the offences, but the two women, known in court as Complainant A and Complainant B, gave evidence during the trial, with the jury eventually finding him guilty of the charges.
What was said at the pre-sentence hearing
Donaldson appeared in court for the first time since his conviction at a pre-sentence hearing at Newry Crown Court three weeks ago.
Judge Paul Ramsey told the court he had received written submissions, victim impact statements from both women and a pre-sentence report on Donaldson.
Prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh KC told the hearing the offending against both victims began when they were of primary school age, saying the young age of both victims was an aggravating factor in the case
Ms Walsh also pointed to the "protracted nature" of the offending, which took place over a number of years.
Referring to the victim impact statements, she said Complainant B described the trial process as a "terrible experience".
She said the abuse Complainant B suffered had affected "every day of every relationship she has had since then".
She said Complainant A feels her "childhood was stolen from her".
Defence barrister Kieran Vaughan KC told the court he acknowledged that "given the nature of the offences that the court will impose a lengthy custodial sentence".
He said the former politician was now 63 and a man of “previous good character” and there had been no offending in the past 18 years.
The barrister said that Donaldson “did achieve significant things in his life”.
But he added: “These convictions obliterate all those achievements he has made in his life.”
Eleanor Donaldson and the appeals
Donaldson's wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was found to have aided and abetted his crimes after a trial of the facts.
That trial was granted on mental health grounds.
Since his conviction, Donaldson has been stripped of his knighthood and removed from the Privy Council.
His solicitor has previously confirmed that papers have been lodged for an appeal.
Eleanor Donaldson has also lodged an appeal against the outcome of her trial of the facts.