Committal hearing for Donaldson historical sex charge case set for July 

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson leaving Newry Magistrates’ Court, after he was released on continuing bail in April Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

A hearing to establish whether there is sufficient evidence to send former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson to trial on historical sex charges will take place on July 3, a judge has confirmed.

The timing of the committal proceedings, known as a preliminary enquiry (PE), was fixed when the case against Donaldson and his co-accused, his wife Eleanor Donaldson, was briefly mentioned at Newry Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.