Judge receives victim impact reports ahead of sentencing of Jeffrey Donaldson

A judge has said he has received victim impact reports ahead of the sentencing of disgraced former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.

Judge Paul Ramsey confirmed that the sentencing process for the former MP would begin on September 25.

Donaldson, 63, was convicted at Newry Crown Court earlier this year of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.

The offences were committed between 1985 and 2008.

His wife Eleanor Donaldson, 60, was found to have aided and abetted his crimes after a trial of the facts, which was granted on mental health grounds.

The hearing took place at Newry Courthouse (Liam McBurney/PA)

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During a brief hearing in Newry on Friday, the judge said he had received two victim impact reports and a sexual offences prevention order in respect of Jeffrey Donaldson, and was awaiting some medical reports.

The judge said he would hear sentencing submissions later this month, but indicated that the sentence would not be passed until October.

Judge Ramsey also said he wanted to “correct an omission” from the end of the trial, saying he had failed to thank members of the media for their reporting of proceedings.

He said: “This was a case which was challenging for the press in view of the issues of anonymity, and I was impressed with the care and accuracy of the reporting, both in print media and in broadcast.”

Donaldson was not in court for the hearing.

The former Lagan Valley MP is in Maghaberry prison awaiting sentencing.

Since his conviction he has been stripped of his knighthood and removed from the Privy Council.

Eleanor Donaldson was found to have aided and abetted her husband’s crimes (Liam McBurney/PA)

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His solicitor has previously confirmed that papers have been lodged for an appeal.

During his trial earlier this year, the two victims gave evidence against him.

Complainant A gave evidence of inappropriate touching and kissing by Donaldson and an incident where he used a light to examine her genitals.

Complainant B told the trial she had been raped as a child of primary school age by Donaldson and later sexually assaulted by him.

Donaldson had denied the offences but the jury at Newry Crown Court convicted him of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency.

At the end of the trial, Judge Ramsey told him that a custodial sentence was inevitable and it would be “lengthy”.