Former DUP chief Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will face trial over 18 intercourse offence costs together with one rely of rape.
A district decide at Newry Magistrates’ Courtroom stated he was glad that Donaldson, 61, and his spouse and co-accused Girl Eleanor Donaldson, 58, had a case to reply throughout a committal listening to immediately.
They may subsequent seem at Newry Crown Courtroom on September 10 for an arraignment listening to forward of their trial.
Throughout immediately’s court docket look, Donaldson was requested if he wished to say something in reply to the costs. He responded: ‘Not at this stage.’
Donaldson is accused of 1 cost of rape, 4 of gross indecency and 13 costs of indecent assault. The fees span a time interval between 1985 and 2008.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson leaving Newry Magistrates’ Courtroom following immediately’s committal listening to
A decide discovered Donaldson, 61, and his spouse and co-accused Girl Eleanor Donaldson, 58, had a prima facie case to reply
Donaldson has beforehand indicated that he’ll contest the costs in opposition to him.
Eleanor Donaldson faces costs of aiding and abetting in reference to the alleged offences.
There was a big police presence when Donaldson arrived at Newry courthouse, however no repeat of the chaotic scenes of his final look in April.
The small courtroom was packed for the listening to. Donaldson and his spouse sat separated by court docket custody officers behind the room.
Jeffrey Donaldson wore a navy blue go well with and sported a beard. Eleanor Donaldson wore a cream jacket.
After confirming their names and addresses, the costs have been learn within the preliminary enquiry (PE) listening to.
Donaldson is now going through 18 historic intercourse offence costs following a evaluate of the case by Northern Eire’s Public Prosecution Service. He had initially confronted 11 costs when he first appeared in court docket in April.
His spouse is going through 5 costs and there are two alleged victims.
District Decide Eamonn King stated: ‘I’m glad on the idea of the papers earlier than the court docket that there’s a prima facie case to reply.’
The court docket clerk then requested the defendants in the event that they wished to say something at this stage in reply to the costs.
Jeffrey Donaldson stated: ‘Not at this stage.’
It has already been confirmed that Donaldson, who was the long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, just isn’t operating for re-election within the UK Basic Election this week
He made the identical response when requested if he wished to tender any written statements of proof at this stage of the proceedings.
Each have been launched on persevering with bail till September 10.
It has already been confirmed that Donaldson, who was the long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, just isn’t operating for re-election within the UK Basic Election this week.
He was arrested and charged in relation to the historic sexual allegations on the finish of March.
Donaldson resigned as DUP chief and was suspended from the occasion after the allegations in opposition to him emerged.
It’s understood that in a letter to DUP occasion officers on the time, he made clear he could be ‘strenuously contesting’ all costs in opposition to him.
Weeks previous to his arrest, he had led the DUP again into Stormont following a two-year boycott of the powersharing establishments.
Earlier deputy chief Gavin Robinson has been appointed his successor as DUP chief.
