Arabic version: محاكمة زعيم حزب الاتحاد الديمقراطي السابق تكشف عن مزاعم مقلقة

According to BBC News,

The jury hearing the sex abuse trial of former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has been shown video recordings of police interviews with one of his alleged victims. In them, Complainant A described a number of alleged encounters with him, including a kiss in which she claimed he put his tongue in her mouth, describing the incident as unpleasant and asserting that he dismissed it as a joke.

The allegations against Sir Jeffrey, who is 63, include 18 charges related to two alleged victims from their childhood, with accusations spanning from 1999 to 2008. These charges include one count of rape, four counts of gross indecency, and 13 counts of indecent assault. Complainant A specifically accused him of inappropriate touching and using a bright light to examine her private parts, incidents which left her feeling frightened.

As an adult, Complainant A confronted Donaldson about the alleged abuse, recalling his inability to meet her gaze during the exchange. “He just nodded his head and looked at the floor,” she said, indicating a sense of acknowledgment without verbal confirmation.

Following his arrest, Sir Jeffrey resigned as DUP leader and chose not to contest his seat in the general election that occurred four months later. In a related case, his wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, faces a trial of the facts on five charges of aiding and abetting, which she has denied. Lady Donaldson was found unfit for a conventional trial due to mental health reasons and will not actively participate in the proceedings.