'A sinful nature': how Jeffrey Donaldson was unmasked as a sexual predator
Former DUP leader led a double life championing conservative values while inflicting sexual harm on two schoolgirls
TL;DR
- Jeffrey Donaldson, former leader of the DUP, has been convicted of 18 sexual offenses against two young victims over two decades.
- His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was charged with aiding and abetting the abuse but faced a trial of facts due to mental health grounds.
- Donaldson maintained a public image of conservative values and political acumen while allegedly committing the offenses.
- Victims described systematic abuse starting when they were primary school age, with acts including indecent assault and rape.
- Donaldson's defense claimed the allegations were fabricated, but a jury found him guilty.
- The revelations led to Donaldson's suspension from the DUP, his resignation, and his absence from the subsequent general election.
- The case has shocked Northern Ireland, highlighting a stark dichotomy between Donaldson's public life and private actions.