Sir Jeffrey Donaldson: Former DUP leader expressed 'regret' to alleged victim in letter, court hears

The trial involving Sir Jeffrey Donaldson on allegations of sexual abuse has brought forward significant testimony, including a letter he reportedly sent to one of the alleged victims expressing remorse and stating that he had sought forgiveness from God. Sir Jeffrey, aged 63, is currently denying 18 charges related to two complainants from their childhood, which include an accusation of rape.

During proceedings, Crown lawyer Rosemary Walsh KC presented a letter dated June 2020, said to be written by Sir Jeffrey to Complainant A. Within the letter, he wrote: “I wish I could find the right words to adequately express just how sorry I am for all of this… I take full responsibility for it all.” The charges against him concerning Complainant A include eight alleged offenses—four counts of gross indecency and four counts of indecent assault—that are said to have taken place between 1999 and 2008.

As part of the courtroom evidence, the jury viewed video footage of police interviews with Complainant A. These Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) interviews were recorded about three weeks before Sir Jeffrey’s arrest in March 2024. In her statements, Complainant A described a series of alleged abusive incidents, including a kiss involving Sir Jeffrey putting his tongue in her mouth, which she found particularly distressing. She also recounted occasions when he allegedly made inappropriate remarks about her body, used a bright light to inspect her private areas, and touched her inappropriately underneath her bra, causing her to feel “really frightened.” She became emotional during the interview and described how, as an adult, she came to understand that these encounters were not normal.

Complainant A further described confronting Sir Jeffrey about the allegations later in life, to which he responded with silence and a nod, avoiding eye contact. When asked about the letter, she interpreted it as an attempt to apologize, although she noted it lacked specificity. Sir Jeffrey and his wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, were both arrested at their residence in County Down and charged on 28 March 2024. Following these events, Sir Jeffrey resigned as leader of the DUP and did not stand in the subsequent general election. He faces several charges, including rape, four counts of gross indecency, and 13 counts of indecent assault. Meanwhile, Lady Eleanor Donaldson is subject to a trial of the facts regarding five associated charges of aiding and abetting but has been deemed unfit for a conventional trial under the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order and will not actively participate in the proceedings

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