Jeffrey Donaldson jailed for 15 years for child sex offences
The former DUP leader was convicted of 18 offences earlier this year
Last updated 15th Oct 2026
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been jailed for 15 years after being convicted of 18 sex offences against two women when they were children.
Judge Paul Ramsey told Newry Crown Court that Donaldson, 63, had shown no “regret, apology or shame” after he was convicted of 18 offences, including one count of rape, earlier this year.
The judge told Donaldson he had “doubled down on his denials” since his conviction for the offences committed between 1985 and 2008.
“There has not been, and doubtless will not be, one word of regret, apology or shame from this man to at least provide his victims with some crumb of comfort,” he said.
He said Donaldson had achieved many things in his political career but had now experienced a “catastrophic descent into disgrace”.
Jury found Donaldson guilty earlier this year
A jury at Newry Crown Court convicted Donaldson in June of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency.
The offences were committed between 1985 and 2008.
The jury was told the two women were abused as children. They have been known in court as Complainant A and Complainant B, and both gave evidence at the trial.
Donaldson pleaded not guilty and spent two days giving evidence, during which he repeatedly denied the allegations.
The jury deliberated for just over 10 hours before returning its verdicts.
After the verdicts, Judge Paul Ramsey said a custodial sentence was inevitable and would be lengthy.
He said Donaldson would be placed on the sex offenders register.
Donaldson was remanded in custody and has been held in Maghaberry prison since.
At a pre-sentence hearing at Newry Crown Court, defence barrister Kieran Vaughan KC told the court he acknowledged a lengthy custodial sentence would be imposed.
Eleanor and Jeffrey Donaldson appealing verdicts
Donaldson's wife, Eleanor Donaldson, from Dromore in Co Down, was found to have aided and abetted his crimes.
She faced a trial of the facts on mental health grounds, which tested the evidence but could not result in a criminal conviction.
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.