Alleged Victim Reflects on Delayed Reporting in Donaldson Trial
One of the two alleged victims in the Sir Jeffrey Donaldson sex abuse trial, who has accused him of raping her during her childhood, has expressed that she should have reported the abuse to authorities much earlier.
The woman, identified as Complainant B, made this statement during cross-examination by Sir Jeffrey's legal counsel. She also expressed feelings of self-blame regarding the alleged abuse experienced by the other complainant involved in the case.
"It's my fault what happened," she said.
Complainant B is the elder of the two alleged victims who have accused the former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader of sexual abuse. Ten of the eighteen sex abuse charges that Sir Jeffrey denies are connected to Complainant B, with the alleged offences occurring between 1985 and 1991.
Disclosure and Past Conversations
During proceedings at Newry Crown Court, the jury was informed that Complainant B first disclosed her alleged abuse to a woman affiliated with the Christian Family Centre in Armoy, County Antrim, while she was a teenager. She also confided in a pastor at that time.
It was suggested by Sir Jeffrey's lawyer, Kieran Vaughan KC, that the pastor had recommended reporting the abuse to the police, but Complainant B had resisted this idea, reportedly stating that if the police were involved, she would claim she had been lying.
Complainant B said it had been a "stupid" thing to say.
She described feeling "embarrassed" and not wanting the matter to be made public at that time.
"I was so afraid of this - of all of this," she said.
She acknowledged that she should have consented to going to the police back then instead of waiting until 2024.
She added: "I tried to move on, to be the bigger person. I tried to not be the victim. I tried to build a life."
Recent Developments and Charges
Both complainants in the sex abuse trial reported their allegations to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in March 2024.
Sir Jeffrey and his wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, who is facing a trial of the facts on mental health grounds and is not actively participating in the proceedings, were arrested later that month at their residence in County Down.
Sir Jeffrey also denies charges of gross indecency and indecent assault against Complainant A, the other alleged victim, who was a child between 1999 and 2008.
Lady Donaldson denies five charges related to aiding and abetting.
