Lady Eleanor Donaldson cannot face trial in a historical sexual offences case linked to former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. The Donaldson court case took another major turn during a hearing at Newry Crown Court on Wednesday.
Judge Paul Ramsey delivered the decision after reviewing evidence from several psychiatric experts. He told the court he accepted that Eleanor Donaldson could not participate in a criminal trial. As a result, prosecutors will now pursue a trial of the facts instead of a standard criminal trial. That process examines evidence in the case but does not allow a criminal conviction.
The court also heard legal arguments about future proceedings in the case. Lawyers debated whether the trial of the facts should run alongside Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s case or take place separately later. Judge Ramsey will deliver a decision on that issue on Thursday. Court officials did not require either Jeffrey or Eleanor Donaldson to attend Wednesday’s hearing.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson faces several historical sexual offence allegations, which he strongly denies. Prosecutors accuse him of rape, indecent assault and gross indecency involving two complainants. The allegations cover a period between 1985 and 2008. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to all 18 charges.
Eleanor Donaldson denies charges of aiding and abetting connected to the case. Medical concerns involving her condition already delayed earlier hearings twice. The Donaldson court case has drawn major public attention since police arrested Sir Jeffrey Donaldson in March 2024. Soon after the charges emerged, he stepped down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.
The DUP also suspended his membership following the allegations. Before his arrest, Donaldson had helped return the party to Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government at Stormont. Court officials still plan to begin proceedings against Sir Jeffrey Donaldson later this month. However, the judge must first decide how the separate process involving Eleanor Donaldson will continue.
The Donaldson court case remains one of the most closely watched legal proceedings in Northern Ireland this year.
For more updates on this news, follow London Pulse News.
