Donaldson Defence Claims Letter to Accuser Had No Sex Abuse Link

The former DUP leader's defence team told Belfast Crown Court a letter sent to a complainant was unrelated to any of the 18 charges he faces, including one count of rape.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson faces 18 charges in total, including one count of rape, all of which he denies.
Defence counsel told the court a letter Donaldson sent to one of his accusers had nothing to do with the allegations against him.
Donaldson resigned as DUP leader in March 2024 after the charges were first made public.
The trial is being heard at Belfast Crown Court.
Prosecution and defence continue to dispute the context and intent of communications between Donaldson and the complainants.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the former Democratic Unionist Party leader, is on trial at Belfast Crown Court facing 18 charges of sexual abuse, among them one count of rape. He denies all 18.

On Wednesday, his defence team addressed a letter Donaldson sent to one of the women who has made allegations against him. The letter, counsel argued, had “nothing to do with the allegations,” according to reporting from BBC News.

Donaldson stepped down as DUP leader in March 2024, the same day the charges were announced publicly. He had led the party since 2021 and served as a Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley.

The trial has attracted sustained attention in Northern Ireland, where Donaldson remained a senior political figure until his abrupt resignation. Proceedings are ongoing.

The defence has not yet specified what the letter was written about, if not the allegations.