Jeffrey Donaldson jailed for 15 years for child sex abuse

Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and placed on the sex offenders register for child sex abuse.

Donaldson, 63, was convicted in June of 18 offences against two women when they were children. The offences date from 1985 to 2008 and include one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency. He had denied the allegations. At Newry Crown Court, Judge Paul Ramsey said Donaldson had shown not one word of shame, remorse or regret, and had doubled down on his denials. The judge described the case as disturbing and disquieting and called it a catastrophic descent into disgrace. Donaldson stood in the dock with his hands clasped and showed no emotion as he was sentenced. He has been an inmate at Maghaberry Prison, in his former Lagan Valley constituency, since June.

The court heard statements from the two victims, who have lifelong anonymity. Victim A said her childhood had been stolen from her and that she would never get it back. She said she carried shame, anger and guilt for years and questioned whether she was worth protecting or worthy of being loved. She learned to survive by shutting away her emotions, trusting no one and expecting people to hurt her. The conviction, she said, does not erase the abuse or undo its impact. Victim B said what happened to her as a child had affected everything since then, every day and every relationship she had ever had. She wondered who she would be if it had not happened, what it would be like not to be afraid at night, not to wake up shaking, not to have nightmares, and not to lock away every feeling. Other coverage reported that one victim said she now prayed every day that God would let her die, and the other said she lived each day in shame.

The Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland said the case showed that no person, irrespective of position, status or public reputation, is beyond the reach of the law. Police and prosecutors commended the victims for their courage. The DUP said Donaldson deserved every day of the lengthy prison sentence and that justice had been done after he preyed on innocent child victims. The party also called for an independent inquiry into who knew what and when during his time in the DUP. The Ulster Unionist Party also called for an independent inquiry.

Donaldson was Northern Ireland's longest serving MP, elected for Lagan Valley in 1997. He began his political career in the Ulster Unionist Party and defected to the DUP in 2003. He became DUP leader in 2021, the year after he was knighted. His influence at Westminster peaked when he negotiated a deal on behalf of the DUP to keep Theresa May's minority government in power. He resigned as DUP leader in 2024 after being charged. He was stripped of his knighthood three months ago. He is appealing against his conviction.

His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was charged with five counts related to aiding and abetting her husband's offending. She was ruled unfit to stand trial on medical grounds. Instead she went through a trial of the facts, where there could be no criminal conviction. The jury found she did commit the acts of which she was accused. She is appealing against that finding. Donaldson's legal team has also confirmed it will appeal his convictions. He now begins a 15-year prison term.