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Child Item

Jeffrey Donaldson steps down as DUP leader after being charged with historical sex crimes -Read OP

My name is URL

https://mydup.com/news/dup-statement-3

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There is to be no discussion of the charges

You can discuss the party and its future leadership, but there is to be no discussion of the case or any other allegations against Donaldson

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Gusser09

Niman

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Oscar_Madison

Trial commences late March- I wonder how long it’s scheduled to run for

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123196485#Comment_123196485

Even today's hearing took five hours (according to The Irish Times) so I'd expect this one to take a while!

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123196774#Comment_123196774

A lot of charges alright - certainly 2-3 weeks would be a fair estimate

Dan Steely

No word of the trial starting?

Esel

A lot of vested interests keeping the delays going, imo.

Dan Steely

I think so.

I told ya

It's been reported that the wife has health issues.

Without knowing the ins and outs of the case and the relevant laws, would it not be possible to proceed with the case against JD?

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124146161#Comment_124146161

There's lots of reasons to try cases like this at the same time. Two biggies:

Avoids prejudicing the outcome of later cases, e.g. conviction leading to conviction and v/v.

Reduces the amount of trauma for witnesses

I told ya

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124146254#Comment_124146254

Fair points alright, thanks.

walshb

Trial date still not set, yes? Hearing today failed to arrive at a date due to a report on the wife still awaiting

Penfailed

New trial date set for the 26th of May.

L1011

Guilty.

walshb

No surprise….a horrible liar as well as a child-rapist

volchitsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124570970#Comment_124570970

Good. Any other verdict would have been incomprehensible IMO.

Oscar_Madison

Once I saw the testimony of his wife I knew it was going to be guilty. She stated that she asked him many times what happened when she found Donaldson and one of the victims in a room on their own- he never answered no matter how many times she asked through the years.

The two victims evidence was compelling - and very specific and of course very believable -but in a case like this and especially when you have the alleged assailant testifying themselves, it can split a jury.

Thankfully the jury reached this decision

From the BBC

Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson found guilty of all 18 sex abuse charges, including rape
The former MP had pleaded not guilty to 18 charges arising from allegations he sexually abused two women when they were children
The judge says he faces a lengthy custodial sentence as he is remanded into custody
His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, also found to having done the acts in five charges of aiding and abetting
She cannot be found guilty as she is facing a trial of the facts after being declared unfit for a conventional trial - she did not participate in proceedings
The victims, known as Complainant A and Complainant B to protect their anonymity, both gave evidence at the trial
Sir Jeffrey testified over two days

Arseboxing

Was pretty much nominative determinism that a horrible right wing bigot with “Jeffrey” and “Donald” in his name would turn out to be a child sex abuser.

Spanish Eyes

Will his "Sir" be revoked?

I am so glad for the victims. I hope he gets at least 20 years.

walshb

The absolute arrogance and power trip of the man to do that to two children and to then be so very public in how to lead a good life. Weird man! And the wife every bit as bad

take everything

Justice done.

He seems like a very arrogant man.

This whole process wasn't easy for the victims.

golfball37

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124571021#Comment_124571021

100%. Phil Taylor lost his mbe for less serious sexual assault

Oscar_Madison

His carefully worded written “apology” and his request for an a”confidential” meeting with the pastor were also serious pieces of evidence against him.
Saying the apology was for something entirely different, without actually saying what the apology was for, didn’t do him any favours and shot his credibility even more.

I wonder will further information be disclosed now that either wasn’t accepted in the evidence or couldn’t be reported on at the trial -I hope there aren’t further victims out there but if there are, that they have the courage to come forward

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124571031#Comment_124571031

It never is easy- but I can’t imagine what an extra burden it must have felt for the victims going to trial in the political fishbowl that is Northern Ireland - I have no doubt that there are loyalists to Donaldson and other bigots up there who are in complete denial of the verdict and practice 20th century hear no evil see no evil speak no evil .