Jeffrey Donaldson could face more than 10 years in jail for child sexual abuse, court told

Prosecutors argue the significant age gap between a former Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party leader and his victims played a key role in the abuse, as the disgraced politician faces potential imprisonment for multiple counts of sexual assault against two women when they were children. The court heard evidence of 18 convictions, including one for rape, following a guilty verdict in June. The case centers on allegations of exploitation involving individuals who were minors at the time of the offenses. The former party leader, who led the DUP from 2021 to 2024, now awaits sentencing after his conviction.

Age difference between former Democratic Unionist party leader and his victims an aggravating factor, say prosecutorsJeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist party in Northern Ireland, could be sent to prison for more than 10 years over the sexual assault of two women when they were children, a court heard on Friday.The disgraced politician, who headed the DUP between 2021 and 2024, was found guilty of 18 counts of sexual abuse including one count of rape against the women in June. Continue reading...