Ex-DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson given 15-year jail term for sex offences

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of historical sex offences against two women when they were children. Judge Paul Ramsey expressed that Donaldson, 63, showed no regret, apology or shame after his conviction for 18 offences, including one count of rape. The judge said Donaldson had persistently denied the offences and consistently denied them despite being found guilty by a jury.

The DUP praised the sentence, stating that Donaldson deserved every day of it. The judge emphasized the catastrophic descent into disgrace for Donaldson, who had reached the highest levels of public office through his political career. The two victims, who gave evidence during the trial, expressed the profound impact of Donaldson's actions on their lives.

Both victims voiced that the abuse had altered their ability to trust others and live without fear. The DUP and the Public Prosecution Service expressed solidarity with the victims, emphasizing that sexual abuse can hide behind respectability and no individual is beyond the reach of the law.