Jeffrey Donaldson jailed for 15 years for child sexual offences in Northern Ireland

Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday, October 15, for sexual offences against two women when they were children.

The 63-year-old was sentenced at Newry Crown Court after a jury convicted him in June of 18 offences: one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency.

The offences took place between 1985 and 2008. Judge Paul Ramsey imposed consecutive terms of 11 years for offences against one victim and four years for offences against the other.

Donaldson denied the charges and is seeking to appeal his convictions. reuters.com