Donaldson Guilty Verdict
Jury Convicts Former DUP Leader Jeffrey Donaldson of Rape and 18 Sex Offences
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Key Points
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The jury that returned the verdict consisted of five women and seven men, who were sent out to begin deliberations on Thursday afternoon at Newry Crown Court.
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Judge Paul Ramsey ruled Eleanor Donaldson unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds, leading to a separate “trial of the facts” that tests evidence but cannot result in a criminal conviction.
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Prosecutors said the complainants’ continuing impact was still visible, with Rosemary Walsh KC telling the jury the “pain and hurt still so visible” and that the “consequences” of abuse “cannot be ignored and brushed under the carpet any longer.”
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One complainant said the abuse has stayed with her, telling the court: “What happened that night will live with me for ever.”
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A barrister for Eleanor Donaldson urged the jury to deliver a verdict that would end her ordeal, telling jurors to “bring an end to this nightmare.”
A jury at Newry Crown Court has found former Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson guilty of 18 historical sex offences, including one count of rape, according to Examiner Live. The 63-year-old was convicted of 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency covering abuse against two women that took place between 1985 and 2008.
The jury of seven men and five women returned their verdict at Newry Crown Court on June 22, 2026. Separately, Donaldson's wife Eleanor, 60, was found to have aided and abetted his offending — though a mental health ruling means that finding is not a criminal conviction, Express reported.
From DUP Leader to Convicted Sex Offender
Donaldson resigned as DUP leader within hours of his arrest in March 2024. He had been one of Northern Ireland's most powerful political figures for decades. He was a key negotiator during the Good Friday Agreement process and led the DUP into its most recent power-sharing government. His arrest sent immediate shockwaves through the UK political establishment, Head Topics reported.
He later resigned his seat as MP for Lagan Valley in April 2024. Gavin Robinson took over as DUP leader. Donaldson had denied all charges and pleaded not guilty. His defence urged jurors to "ignore the political noise" and focus on the absence of physical evidence from decades ago.
Complainants Gave Evidence That Drove the Case
The testimony of the two women was central to securing the conviction. Lead prosecutor Rosemary Walsh KC told the jury the "pain and hurt still so visible" in the complainants could not be ignored. She said the consequences of abuse "cannot be ignored and brushed under the carpet any longer," according to Ipswich Star.
One complainant told the court: "What happened that night will live with me forever." Legal analysts note the verdict shows that credible and consistent testimony can secure a conviction in historical cases — even without forensic evidence from the 1980s.
Eleanor Donaldson's Mental Health Trial Explained
Eleanor Donaldson, 60, was ruled unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds by Judge Paul Ramsey. Instead, she faced a "trial of the facts" — a rare legal process where a jury decides if she did the acts alleged, but cannot return a criminal guilty verdict. Under the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, she cannot be jailed as a result, World Infonasional reported.
The jury found that Eleanor Donaldson did commit the acts of aiding and abetting her husband's offending. Her barrister had urged jurors to "bring an end to this nightmare" and deliver a verdict that would end her ordeal. The court will now decide the appropriate next steps, likely involving medical or community-based supervision rather than prison.
Sentencing Looms as Political Fallout Deepens
Donaldson now faces a significant prison term. Sentencing is expected within four to six weeks. The rape charge alone carries a serious custodial sentence under Northern Ireland judicial guidelines. As a former Privy Councillor and the longest-serving MP in his constituency, his conviction is among the most dramatic falls from power in recent British political history.
Victim support group Nexus NI praised the courage of the two women. Analysts say the DUP, already under strain, faces a lasting reputational blow given the party's "pro-family, traditional values" platform. The conviction also raises wider questions about the vetting and oversight of senior public officials, Express noted.
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