Dromore Paedophile Jeffrey Donaldson, the former DUP leader, is scheduled to appear in court on charges of prior sexual offences.
Jeffrey Donaldson (61) and his wife Eleanor Donaldson (58), of Dromore, appeared in Newry Magistrates’ Court this morning (Wednesday) for a preliminary enquiry (PE), which is the procedural process by which a matter is referred to a higher court.
Jeffrey Donaldson is suspected of 18 offences, including one act of rape, four counts of gross indecency with or towards a juvenile, and 13 counts of indecent assault on a female between 1985 and 2008.
Eleanor Donaldson is facing five allegations, including abetting rape, cruelty to a person under the age of 16, and three instances of aiding and abetting indecent assault.
At the start of the brief hearing, the couple were asked to confirm their identities and birth dates before a prosecution lawyer told the court that there was a prima facie case to answer based on the paperwork.
They admitted they were aware of the charges against them, and when asked whether they wanted to respond, Jeffrey Donaldson said, “Not at this stage.”
After determining that there was a prima facie case to answer, the Judge discharged the defendants on their existing bail terms and referred the case to Newry Crown Court for arraignment on September 10.
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