A 55-year-old woman from Ballynahinch has admitted to violating a lifetime anonymity order by sharing information on social media that could have exposed the identity of a victim in the Jeffrey Donaldson sex abuse case.
Donna Toman of Lord Moira Park appeared before Downpatrick Magistrates' Court on Monday, where her defence representative confirmed she was entering a guilty plea to the charge. The offence relates to a social media post made earlier in the year, which police said breached protections put in place for those affected by Donaldson's crimes.
According to the charge, the post in question "was likely to lead members of the public to identify a person as the person against whom a qualifying offence is alleged to have been committed". Police confirmed on 29 July that the woman's arrest was connected to the Donaldson trial.
What are the potential consequences?
District Judge Magill indicated the seriousness of the breach, stating:
"It is a serious offence."The court was told that the offence carries a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment. The judge ordered that a pre-sentence report be prepared by 12 October, at which point sentencing will be determined.
Background to the Donaldson convictions
Donaldson, who served as an MP from 1997 until 2024, was convicted in June of 18 counts of sexual abuse, including one count of rape. The offences were committed against two women when they were children. During his trial at Newry Crown Court, the judge indicated that any sentence imposed would be substantial in length.
The anonymity order breached by Toman exists to protect the identities of Donaldson's victims. Such orders are designed to shield survivors of abuse from further harm and maintain their privacy throughout legal proceedings and beyond. The lifetime nature of the order underscores the permanent protection afforded to those affected.
What happens next?
Donaldson has since announced his intention to appeal his convictions. His case continues to develop as both his own legal process and related matters, such as Toman's sentencing, move through the courts. The pre-sentence report ordered by Judge Magill will inform the decision on Toman's punishment when she returns to court in October.
