Jury resumes deliberations in Jeffrey Donaldson sex abuse trial

Jeffrey Donaldson arriving at Newry Crown Court (Brian Lawless/PA)

A jury in the sex offences trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has resumed deliberations.

The jury at Newry Crown Court is considering its verdict for a second day after deliberating for three hours and 10 minutes on Thursday.

The 63-year-old former MP has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

The trial is taking place at Newry Crown Court (Liam McBurney/PA)

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

Complainants A and B have both given evidence at the trial.

Both women allege they were abused as children.

Donaldson spent two days giving evidence during the trial.

His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 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 on mental health grounds.

The trial of the facts will test the evidence in the case, but cannot result in a criminal conviction.