Eleanor Donaldson ruled unfit to stand trial in historical sexual offences case

Jeffrey Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences

Eleanor Donaldson arrives at Newry Crown Court in February. File picture: Liam McBurney/PA

Eleanor Donaldson, the wife of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, has been ruled unfit to stand trial in a historical sexual offences case in which her husband is a defendant.

Judge Paul Ramsey made the ruling at Newry Crown Court on Wednesday after hearing medical evidence.

The judge told the court: “I am satisfied that upon the totality of the evidence presented I will determine that Eleanor Donaldson is unfit to be tried.” 

Eleanor Donaldson is now set to face a trial of the facts — a process that tests the evidence in the case but cannot result in her being criminally convicted.

The judge heard further legal submissions during Wednesday’s hearing on whether that trial of the facts should run alongside the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson or as separate proceedings at a different time.

He is due to rule on that point on Thursday.

Neither Jeffrey nor Eleanor Donaldson were present in court for the ruling. They were not required to attend.

Prior to Wednesday’s proceedings, the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson, aged 63, had been listed to start on May 26.

He has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

The charges include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a time period between 1985 and 2008, involving two alleged victims.

Eleanor Donaldson, 60, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, has denied charges of aiding and abetting.

Proceedings had already been delayed twice due to medical issues related to her.

The judge ruled that she was not fit to stand trial after considering evidence from several psychiatric experts.

Jeffrey Donaldson, a former long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, was arrested and charged at the end of March 2024.

He resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations emerged.

Weeks before his arrest, he had led the DUP back into devolved government at Stormont after a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions.