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Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson to be sentenced for child sex abuse convictions
Overview
Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson is scheduled to be sentenced for 18 counts of child sex abuse, including rape, committed against two victims when they were children. Donaldson, who has been held in Maghaberry Prison and is seeking to appeal his convictions, faces a lengthy prison sentence. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was previously found by a jury to have committed acts including aiding and abetting his offending. Following the case, political parties have launched reviews, and Donaldson has been stripped of his knighthood.
Key points
- Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson is due to be sentenced on Thursday for 18 counts of child sex abuse, including rape.
- Donaldson was convicted in June of offences committed against two women when they were children and is seeking to appeal.
- His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was found by a jury to have carried out acts including four counts of aiding and abetting her husband's offending.
- The DUP and Ulster Unionist Party have launched independent reviews following the convictions.
- Donaldson was stripped of his knighthood by the King in July following his conviction.