Judge says it remains his ‘expectation’ that Donaldson trial begins on May 26th

By David Young, Press Association

A judge has made clear he will be “extremely disappointed” if the historical sexual offences trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson does not proceed on May 26th as scheduled.

Proceedings against Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor Donaldson, have been delayed twice due to medical issues related to her.

A review hearing in Newry Crown Court on Tuesday was told that two further medical assessments of Eleanor Donaldson still had to be carried out ahead of the trial date later this month.

Judge Paul Ramsey acknowledged that “genuine medical evidence” remained outstanding but he said it was nevertheless his “expectation rather than hope” that a trial would commence as scheduled on May 26th.

He listed another review hearing for May 19th to enable all parties to the case to assess the findings of the two additional examinations – one commissioned by the prosecution and one by the defence – and determine whether they would influence how proceedings would progress.

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.

Eleanor Donaldson, 60, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, is facing charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies.

Neither of the Donaldsons attended Tuesday’s hearing in Newry courthouse.

Prosecuting barrister Rosemary Walsh told the court that she had provided a position paper to all parties setting out two options on how the case could progress if Eleanor Donaldson is deemed unfit for trial.

Eleanor Donaldson’s counsel Ian Turkington insisted other options would also need to be considered in that scenario.

Turkington said there was “cogent medical evidence” in relation to the “unfitness” of his client and insisted it would be “grossly unfair” to commence a trial against her if she was not in condition to participate in it.

The judge said all parties were talking “in a bit of a vacuum” until they had sight of the two medical assessments.

“I really would be extremely disappointed if this case did not proceed on the 26th of May,” he said.

The judge acknowledged the May 19th review hearing meant “quite a short turnaround” for parties to consider the medical evidence ahead of the scheduled trial start date.

But he said the court would be clearer on the “path forward” after the review hearing.

He said he realised there was some public concern over the “apparent delay” in the case.

“But there is genuine medical evidence here in this case that we have to look at and we have to consider before we can proceed,” he added.

“But I think every effort must be made to expedite that so that we’re ready to go on the 26th of May, because I think it’s in the interest of all parties that the case should commence.”

Jeffrey Donaldson, a former 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.