Allegations Raised in Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Sex Abuse Trial
The jury in the sex abuse trial of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has been presented with claims from one of the alleged victims that Lady Eleanor Donaldson, the accused's wife, was made aware of an alleged incident involving a bright light being shone on the victim's private parts.
During cross-examination of the younger of the two alleged victims, referred to as Complainant A, Lady Eleanor Donaldson's barrister stated that his client had "raised the matter" with Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.
The complainant was describing an alleged encounter in which she claimed Sir Jeffrey used a bright light, possibly a torch, to examine her genital area.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, a former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), denies 18 sex abuse charges, including one count of rape.
Lady Donaldson denies five charges related to aiding and abetting.
She is undergoing a trial of the facts after being previously deemed unfit to face a conventional trial on mental health grounds, and is therefore not actively participating in the proceedings.
Complainant A's Testimony Regarding Lady Donaldson's Awareness
The jury at Newry Crown Court heard that Complainant A told Lady Donaldson about the alleged incident involving the bright light.
The complainant stated that Lady Donaldson later questioned her to "ask if I was telling the truth."
"I knew by the look on her face she knew I was telling the truth.
Why would I make something like that up? I had no motive. Once she identified I was telling the truth, she did nothing about it."
Lady Donaldson's barrister, Ian Turkington KC, suggested to the complainant that Lady Donaldson did inquire about the alleged incident with Sir Jeffrey.
Complainant A also claimed she informed Lady Donaldson of a separate alleged incident in which Sir Jeffrey kissed her.
She said she told Lady Donaldson that Sir Jeffrey had "put his tongue in my mouth" and "moved his tongue around my mouth."
The complainant said the matter was "laughed off" by both defendants as "just a joke."
"I can guarantee you I was not laughing at all," the complainant said.
Details of Charges Against Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
Sir Jeffrey denies acts of gross indecency and indecent assault against Complainant A when she was a child, between 1999 and 2008.
Other alleged offences, dating back to 1985, including a charge of rape, relate to a second woman, Complainant B, who was also a child at the time.
