Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Jonathan McCambridge

New medical reports on Eleanor Donaldson submitted, court hears

Lady Eleanor Donaldson (Liam McBurney/PA) - (PA Archive)

Two new medical reports relating to Lady Eleanor Donaldson have been submitted to court, a judge has said.

The trial of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife on charges relating to alleged historical sexual offences has been delayed twice because of her medical issues.

Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

The charges include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a time period between 1985 and 2008, involving two alleged victims.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (Liam McBurney/PA) (PA Archive)

Eleanor Donaldson, 59, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, is facing charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies.

A new trial date of May 26 has been set.

Neither of the Donaldsons attended a brief update hearing at Newry Crown Court on Friday.

Judge Paul Ramsey said the court has received two further medical reports on Eleanor Donaldson.

Prosecuting barrister Rosemary Walsh KC said she had received the reports on Friday morning.

The judge said the prosecution would want to look at the reports.

The court was then given an update on progress ahead of the trial.

Judge Ramsey said he would review the matter again on May 5, saying: “That will give us a clear three weeks before the trial.”

Jeffrey Donaldson, the long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, was arrested and charged at the end of March 2024.

He resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations emerged.

Weeks before his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont after a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.