Arabic version: النيابة تطالب هيئة المحلفين بالاعتراف بتأثير الإساءة في محاكمة دونالدسون

The jury in the sex abuse trial of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has been told that the consequences of what he allegedly did to two women when they were children cannot be “brushed under the carpet any longer” and he should be found guilty. According to BBC News, prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh KC emphasized that the allegations should not be ignored, stating, “the sexual abuse they suffered has consequences – consequences that cannot be ignored and brushed under the carpet any longer.”

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges of sexual abuse, including one count of rape, allegedly committed between 1985 and 2008. His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, denies five related charges but is facing a trial of the facts and is not participating in proceedings due to mental health issues.

In her closing remarks, Walsh detailed the emotional toll on the complainants, known as Complainant A and Complainant B. She described their decision to come forward as a significant and difficult choice, highlighting their courage in confronting their past. “They put their heads above the parapet and braced for what was coming at them,” she stated.

Walsh also referred to a significant meeting that took place in the Christian Family Centre in Armoy, County Antrim, in the 1990s, where Sir Jeffrey allegedly apologized to Complainant B, asserting that the apology was not related to any accusations. This meeting, according to Walsh, supports the complainant’s account and raises questions about Sir Jeffrey’s credibility. The trial continues as the jury deliberates the evidence presented.