Crime & Justice
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years for child sexual offences
October 15, 2026 at 11:29 AM · Updated 1d ago
3 reports · over 15 hours
AJAl Jazeera English
Northern Ireland ex-DUP leader Donaldson sentenced to 15 years for child sex crimes
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years for child sexual offences
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Jeffrey Donaldson: Former DUP leader due to be sentenced for child sex abuse convictions
(opens the publisher’s site)Newry Crown Court sentenced Donaldson to 15 years for sexually abusing two women while they were children, over offences spanning 1985 to 2008.
- The court imposed the sentence on Thursday; Donaldson was convicted in June on 18 counts, including one count of rape.
- Donaldson said he plans to appeal and has been held at Maghaberry prison since his conviction.
- King Charles stripped Donaldson of his knighthood in July following the conviction.
- A jury found his wife, Eleanor, aided and abetted his offending; she was deemed unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds.
- The 18 counts comprised one of rape, 13 of indecent assault, and four of gross indecency.
- The judge noted Donaldson never apologized and may serve seven-and-a-half years through automatic remission.