Eleanor Donaldson’s bid to have two charges withdrawn ‘should not delay trial’

By Jonathan McCambridge (PA)

An application to dismiss two charges facing Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s wife in the historical sex offences case involving them both should not delay their trial, a judge has said.

During a brief review hearing at Newry Crown Court, judge Paul Ramsey said he expected the trial to proceed at the end of March.

Former DUP leader Donaldson, 62, has pleaded not guilty to 18 offences.

The historical charges include one count of rape as well as allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency.

His wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 58, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, faces charges of aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences facing her husband.

She has entered not guilty pleas to three charges ahead of the March trial but her defence team has applied to have two other charges against her withdrawn.

It had originally been expected that the judge would hear submissions in the no bill application to dismiss the two charges on Tuesday.

However, he said that was not possible and instead listed a hearing for January.

Judge Ramsey told the court: “This is the application for no bill in respect of two of the counts on the indictment.

“We are not proceeding with that today, for technical reasons we can’t proceed with that so we are going to fix a date for the hearing of that.”

The judge said he would hear oral arguments on January 23, having already received written arguments on the application from both the defence and prosecution.

He said: “Our trial is the end of March. I take it it won’t affect the trial, we can get this matter dealt with.”

Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service barrister Rosemary Walsh KC said there would be a number of outstanding applications which would follow the no bill hearing.

Judge Ramsey said: “It shouldn’t affect the trial date.”

He also said he was unlikely to rule on the no bill application on January 23 but would do so “very soon after”.

Neither defendant was in court on Tuesday.

The trial date has been set for March 24 next year.

Jeffrey Donaldson is accused of one charge of rape, four of gross indecency and 13 of indecent assault.

The charges span a time period between 1985 and 2008.

There are two alleged victims.

The long-standing MP for Lagan Valley was arrested and charged in relation to the historical sexual allegations at the end of March.

He resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations against him emerged.

Weeks prior to his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont following a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions.

Previous deputy leader Gavin Robinson has been appointed his successor as DUP leader

Lady Eleanor Donaldson arriving for a previous hearing at Newry Courthouse (Liam McBurney/PA)