Eleanor Donaldson placed on sex offenders register after Newry trial of facts
Eleanor Donaldson, wife of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, has been placed on the sex offenders list for five years following a non-criminal hearing at Newry Crown Court.
Eleanor Donaldson added to sex offenders register after Newry hearing
Eleanor Donaldson, the wife of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, has been placed on the sex offenders register for five years, the Irish Independent reports. The 60-year-old was also made subject to a three-year supervision and treatment order under mental health legislation when proceedings against her concluded at Newry Crown Court on Thursday morning.
Donaldson was found to have aided and abetted her husband's sexual offending. Because of concerns about her mental health, she was subject to a non-criminal process known as a trial of the facts rather than a conventional criminal trial. She did not attend the hearing in person but was legally represented throughout.
She appeared via videolink for approximately two minutes at the conclusion of proceedings so the court's decision could be explained to her. She kept her head bowed and appeared emotional. When asked whether she understood the outcome, she nodded and said yes.
Judge Paul Ramsey said that having heard expert medical evidence from two clinicians, he considered it "inevitable" that the supervision and treatment order was the most appropriate disposal in her case. Under the terms of the order, Donaldson must attend appointments and submit to treatment under the supervision of a social worker attached to Craigavon Community Mental Health Team.
Both of Jeffrey Donaldson's victims were present in the courtroom for the hearing. The pair, now adults, sat in the public gallery alongside police officers who had investigated the case.
In June, a jury at Newry Crown Court found Jeffrey Donaldson guilty of all 18 sexual offences brought against him, including a single charge of rape. The offending took place between 1985 and 2008. He was sentenced last month to 15 years in prison for the crimes. He is entitled to 50% remission and will therefore serve seven and a half years in custody, with the remainder served on licence.
Source: Irish Independent