Skip to main content
See every side of every news story
Published loading...Updated

Jeffrey Donaldson wrote letter to alleged victim expressing regret, trial hears

The jury heard a handwritten letter in which Donaldson said he regretted the hurt, pain and distress he caused.

  • On Thursday, prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh read a handwritten letter Sir Jeffrey Donaldson sent to his accuser in June 2020, in which he expressed "how much I truly regret all the hurt, pain and distressed I have caused" and took "full responsibility for it all."
  • Donaldson, a former long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, was arrested and charged in March 2024 after leading the DUP back into devolved government at Stormont following a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions.
  • Video evidence showed Complainant A alleging abuse from quite a young age, claiming she became "very sexually aware" around age six or seven and describing touching that "happened for quite a while" and a significant incident as a teenager when Donaldson allegedly held a light.
  • Defence barrister Kieran Vaughan cross-examined the complainant Thursday, suggesting her memory was "foggy" and proposing she either fabricated incidents or "dreamt it and over the years come to believe it is true," which she called "completely ridiculous and insulting."
  • The trial is expected to last between three and four weeks, while Donaldson's wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson faces a concurrent trial of facts after Judge Paul Ramsey ruled her unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds; she denies five counts of aiding and abetting.
Insights by Ground AI
Podcasts & Opinions

25 Articles

Kent OnlineKent Online
Reposted by
Breaking NewsBreaking News
Center

Donaldson ‘regret’ letter ‘nothing to do’ with sex allegations, trial hears

The ex-MP has pleaded not guilty to the 18 alleged offences.

·Kent, United Kingdom
Read Full Article
Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 48% of the sources lean Left
48% Left

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

RTÉ broke the news in Ireland on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal