The former leader of Northern Ireland's largest Unionist party, Jeffrey Donaldson, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for rape and sexual abuse against two girls, which occurred decades ago. The judge highlighted the lack of regret of the politician and aggravated the penalty for the crimes committed against two different victims.
© Reuters
16/10/2026
by
Lusa
Jeffrey Donaldson
O former leader of Northern Ireland's largest unionist party Jeffrey Donaldson was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for rape and sexual abuse against two girls, which occurred decades ago.
63-year-old Donaldson was found guilty in June of a rape charge, four counts of serious indecency and 13 counts of indecent assault involving two girls between 1985 and 2008.
The former politician led the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the largest party in favour of Northern Ireland's stay in the United Kingdom. He resigned from the leadership of the conservative party and resigned from his seat in the House of Commons after his arrest two years ago.
Judge Paul Ramsey said that the former politician went through a “catastrophic fall towards dishonor.”.
At the Court of the Crown of Newry, the judge imposed an 11-year sentence for the crimes committed against one of the victims and four years for the crimes against the other, and these will be carried out consecutively.
“There has not been — and no doubt there will be — a single word of repentance, apology or shame on the part of this man that could at least offer his victims a minimum of comfort,” the judge said.
During the trial, Donaldson denied all allegations against you. He said in a “absolutely clear” way that he did not rape one of the girls when she was a child decades ago.
Donaldson's 60-year-old wife Eleanor Donaldson was found to be complicit in her husband's crimes for witnessing abuse without intervening.
Due to mental health issues, Eleanor Donaldson went through only one hearing to clarify the facts, without a conviction.