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Former Northern Ireland unionist leader Jeffrey Donaldson faces new sex offence charges

File - February 12, 2024, London, England, United Kingdom: Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland JEFFREY DONALDSON is seen talking to members of the foreign press at a briefing in London organised by the Foreign Press Association.


File – February 12, 2024, London, England, United Kingdom: Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland JEFFREY DONALDSON is seen talking to members of the foreign press at a briefing in London organised by the Foreign Press Association. – Europa Press/Contact/Tayfun Salci – Archive

2 Jul. () –

Former leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Jeffrey Donaldson, who resigned in late March after being accused of sexual offences, will face additional charges when he appears in court again on Wednesday.

Donaldson is now charged with a total of 18 sexual offences after the prosecution considered new evidence provided by the police. The former union leader was charged with 11 offences when he first appeared in court.

Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor Donaldson, is also expected to testify alongside him. She is also accused and faces five charges, one more than initially planned, according to information collected by British radio and television, BBC.

The events under investigation involve two alleged victims and are believed to have occurred between 1985 and 2006. Eleanor is accused of participating in covering up the abuses alleged against her husband. The couple, arrested at the end of March, deny the incident.

Jeffrey Donaldson was expelled from his party with immediate effect, although he held his seat as an independent until the end of May. Following the abrupt resignation of the historic leader, the DUP has Gavin Robinson, the former number two, as its interim leader.

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