Jeffrey Donaldson told police he 'can’t get head around' allegations of sexual abuse

Former DUP leader accepted that he had apologised to one of the alleged victims at a meeting, but stated that this was because she had felt 'uncomfortable'

Jeffrey Donaldson arriving at Newry Crown Court on Monday. Picture: PA

 Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson repeatedly denied claims of sexual abuse against two alleged victims during police interviews.

A court heard when the circumstances of an allegation of rape were put to the ex-MP by a detective, he responded: “I’m sorry, but I can’t get my head around this notion.” 

Mr Donaldson accepted that he had apologised to one of the alleged victims at a meeting, but stated that this was because she had felt “uncomfortable”.

He also said he did “not accept the picture that is being painted” during the interviews.

Mr Donaldson’s trial over historical sexual offences at Newry Crown Court on Monday heard a series of audio recordings of his interviews with police following his arrest in 2024.

Mr Donaldson, aged 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences, including one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a time period between 1985 and 2008 involving two complainants.

Eleanor Donaldson, aged 60, from Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending. She is facing a trial of the facts and is not participating in the proceedings.

On Monday, the jury of five women and seven men heard that Mr Donaldson had been interviewed by police for four-and-a-half hours following his arrest in the early hours of March 28 2024.

Extracts of the interviews were played to the jury through the day.

Mr Donaldson, wearing a blue suit, sat in the dock at the back of the court while the recordings were played.

The interview at Antrim PSNI station began with the former DUP leader confirming his name and date of birth.

Asked at the beginning if he wanted to say anything in relation to the alleged offences, he replied, “No".

When asked if he had put his hands down the pants of Complainant B, he responded, “No”.

The detective said: “Has anything remotely like that ever happened before with her?” Mr Donaldson said: “No.” 

When the detective said the complainant had alleged Mr Donaldson pulled her legs apart with her two feet, he again said “no".

When it was put to him that the alleged victim had said he was a heavy breather, Mr Donaldson said: “Why would I be a heavy breather? I’ve never had asthma.” 

When the rape allegation was put to him, he responded: “That did not happen. The answer to that is absolutely no.” 

He added: “I’m sorry but I can’t get my head around this notion.

“This is not anything that is something that has ever happened, would not happen.

“That is not a situation that we would have thought in any way was appropriate.” 

Turning to another alleged incident where Complainant B alleges Mr Donaldson played with her breasts when she was of secondary school age, he again denied the actions.

He said: “There was nothing of an inappropriate nature in terms of breasts exposed or anything like that.” 

The police interview then turned to a meeting between Complainant B, Jeffrey Donaldson and David and Linda Hoy, the founders of the Christian Family Centre in Armoy in the 1990s.

The court previously heard B had stayed at the centre as a teenager after developing a problem with drugs.

Mr Donaldson said he had been contacted by Mr Hoy about things Complainant B was “uncomfortable with”.

He said: “I was happy to have a chat.” 

He said: “At no stage did anybody allege any of the kind of incidents you have mentioned.” 

He said that following the meeting, he and Complainant B “both embraced and that was the end of it”.

Mr Donaldson responded: “All of the issues you’ve put to me this afternoon were not mentioned to me.” 

Asked if the conversation with B had involved an apology, Mr Donaldson said: “I’m sure it did…if our relationship was not good then I was sorry that was the case.” 

Another police interview related to allegations made by Complainant A.

Asked if he had put his hand up her blouse as a child and rubbed her breasts, he responded “Oh no.” 

“Have you ever put your hand up her top at any age," asked the detective.

Mr Donaldson said “no". The detective said the complainant had claimed “this was done so casually and became so frequent it became almost normalised.” He said: “No, absolutely not.” 

Mr Donaldson also denied in the interview an allegation that he had put his tongue in Complainant A’s mouth and moved it around.

Asked if he had tried to pass the alleged incident off as a joke, he said: “That did not happen and I would have no reason to do that.” 

Mr Donaldson later told police: “I’ve answered all your questions and I’m saying to you what fits.

“I’ve taken each situation that you’ve put to me and I do not accept the picture that is being painted here.” 

The trial continues.