Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
The jury overseeing the case of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has viewed a video recording of a police interview with one of the women who accuse him of sexual offenses committed during her childhood. This woman, identified as Complainant B, is the elder of two accusers alleging that the former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader sexually abused them.
Complainant B gave her police statement several weeks prior to the arrest of Sir Jeffrey and his wife in March 2024. Out of the 18 sexual abuse charges Sir Jeffrey faces, he denies ten which specifically involve Complainant B. These alleged offenses are said to have taken place between 1985 and 1991. During a 75-minute Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) interview played in Newry Crown Court, she described incidents in detail, at times becoming tearful and difficult to hear.
In the interview, Complainant B recalled that Sir Jeffrey frequently put his hands down her underwear and described an incident when she was of primary school age where he allegedly pulled her legs apart while positioned between her feet. She noted his heavy breathing and said she experienced sensations that were new and uncomfortable to her. She stated, “I hated it yet I thought if I pretend to be asleep he’ll just stop and lose interest. I thought what’s the point in shouting.” Afterward, she reported feeling very sick and anxious. Another allegation included Sir Jeffrey lifting her top and touching her breasts, an act she claimed Lady Eleanor Donaldson witnessed but did not intervene.
In addition to the complaints involving Complainant B, Sir Jeffrey denies accusations of gross indecency and indecent assault made by another accuser, Complainant A, relating to incidents between 1999 and 2008. Lady Donaldson, Sir Jeffrey’s wife, is also facing legal proceedings. She denies five charges connected to aiding and abetting; however, due to mental health reasons, she has been ruled unfit for a standard trial and is not actively participating in court proceedings
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
