Ex-DUP leader Donaldson to be sentenced for child sex abuse including rape
Summary
Jeffrey Donaldson, former leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), is set to be sentenced for 18 counts of child sex abuse, including rape. Donaldson was convicted in June 2026 and has been held in prison since; his wife was also found guilty of helping him commit some of the crimes.Key Facts
- Jeffrey Donaldson led the DUP from 2021 until he was charged in March 2024.
- He was convicted of 18 counts of child sex abuse, including rape, against two women who were children at the time.
- Donaldson has been in Maghaberry Prison awaiting sentencing, which will be lengthy.
- His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was found guilty of aiding and abetting his offences on five counts.
- Donaldson was a member of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) from 1982 to 2003 before joining the DUP.
- He was knighted in 2016 but was stripped of his knighthood in July 2026 following his conviction.
- The DUP and UUP have launched independent reviews into issues related to Donaldson's conduct.
- A review by the Northern Ireland Assembly found no further information requiring investigation into his time as a junior minister.
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