NEWRY — Jeffrey Donaldson appeared at Newry Crown Court in 2024 to face 18 historical sexual offense charges, including one count of rape, spanning from 1985 to 2008 and involving two alleged victims. He sat in the dock and took notes during the hearing.

A 2020 letter Donaldson wrote to one of the alleged victims, known in court as Witness A, became a central focus of the proceedings. In the letter, he expressed regret for inflicting “hurt, pain and distress,” described himself as a “sinner” who had not addressed his “sinful nature for far too many years,” and stated he would “regret this to my dying day.” Witness A said the letter did not mention sexual abuse but carried connotations of guilt and shame and requested forgiveness. She believes it was an apology for what Donaldson did to her over the years, though he never explicitly acknowledged the acts.

Kieran Vaughan KC, Donaldson’s barrister, argued the letter had “nothing to do” with the sexual abuse allegations and referred instead to other behavior. Vaughan also contrasted Witness A’s court testimony about “skin on skin” touching with her earlier police statement describing “touching over clothing.” Witness A responded by saying, “The facts are the facts, I am sticking to that.”

Witness A alleged that Donaldson touched her breasts on several occasions when she was of primary school age, mostly “skin on skin,” and told police he had “perched” over her and used a light to look at her “private parts.” Vaughan suggested her account about the light was untrue and that she was confused. Witness A replied, “To this day I am still confused. I am honest about that.” She explained she waited until March 2024 to make a formal complaint because she knew it would become an extremely public affair involving media, calling it a “huge, huge decision.” She added she had doubts and “very nearly changed my mind.”

Donaldson denies all charges against him. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, who is charged with aiding and abetting rape and indecent assault, was not present in court after being deemed unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds. She also denies the charges and will undergo a trial of the facts, which assesses evidence without risk of criminal conviction. Her legal team is scheduled to question Witness A next week.