Woman jailed for three months for breaching anonymity of Donaldson victims

Donna Toman leaving Downpatrick Magistrates’ Court, Co Down (Liam McBurney/PA)

A woman has been sentenced to three months in jail for breaching the anonymity of the victims of Jeffrey Donaldson.

The district judge handing down the sentence at Downpatrick Magistrates’ Court said it “must be made clear that those who are the victims of sexual offending will be protected” when they come before court.

Donna Toman, 55, from the Lord Moira Park area of Ballynahinch, appeared before court on Monday after previously pleading guilty to breaching a lifetime ban on publishing information likely to lead to the identification of the victims.

Ms Toman was released on bail pending appeal.

Ex-MP Donaldson was convicted in June of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.

The offences were committed by the former DUP leader between 1985 and 2008.

The two victims at the centre of the Donaldson trial were referred to as Complainant A and Complainant B and both are entitled to lifelong anonymity.

Ms Toman’s legal representative said the offending social media video did not identify the victims by name and the reference to them was removed when it was edited 90 minutes after originally being posted.

He said it was not Ms Toman’s intention to cause distress and the video expressed “a strong amount of disgust” towards Donaldson and his crimes.

He said the impact of the case has “weighed very heavily” on Ms Toman, who has had “sleepless nights”.

Ms Toman, a former Dolly Parton impersonator, is in receipt of universal credit but was described as someone who has “given back to the community” by tutoring drama and music in a special needs school.

In his sentencing, District Judge Peter Magill told Ms Toman that Donaldson’s victims were “likely subject to further distress, exposure, and unwanted attention as a result of what you did”.

He added that the court also has to take into account the “wider public good and interest”.

“It is often difficult for a victim to find the courage to come forward and to go through a lengthy investigation process and trial process which can take a long time and relies on them making statements and being prepared to give evidence and face cross-examination,” he said.

“That is not easy. It is, in fact, very difficult. 
Anything which makes it more difficult is very much not in the public interest.”

Judge Magill added: “It must be made clear that those who are the victims of sexual offending will be protected; (they) will have their anonymity preserved.”

He said he considered all options before the court but said “there is only one proper course, a sentence of immediate custody”.

The maximum sentence is one of six months, and Judge Magill said that would have been considered had Ms Toman contested the charges.