By Paul Higgins
Alleged paedophile couple Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Lady Eleanor will have sex charges formally put to them for the first time this September, a judge ordered today (wed).
At Newry Magistrates Court 61-year-old Donaldson, Ulster’s longest serving MP and his 58-year-old wife appeared back in court for the first time since they were first charged in April.
The last time the pair arrived at court there was a scrum to get through but this time, the police had a path cordoned off.
The indictment against Sir Jeffrey has grown from 11 charges to 18 but still accuses the alleged pervert of historic sex abuse of two female complaints, all alleged to have been committed on dates unknown between 1 January 1987 and 1 January 2007.
The first ten charges, spanning dates between January 1987 and January 1991, relate to the first complaint and include one charge of rape and nine of indecent assault.
The remaining eight charges, four of indecent assault and four of committing acts of gross indecency towards a child, relate to a second alleged victim who was subjected to sex abuse between 1 January 2005 and 1 January 2007.
Lady Eleanor faces five charges including aiding and abetting her husband in rape, three charges of aiding and abetting Sir Jeffrey in the indecent assault of the first complaint and one counts of child cruelty in relation to the second complainant in that she allegedly wilfully neglected and exposed her “in a manner likely to cause her unnecessary suffering or injury to health.
The particulars of the aiding and abetting rape charge alleges that Sir Jeffrey raped the female and that “knowing that she did not so consent or being reckless as to whether the said person so consented” and that Lady Eleanor “did aid, abet, counsel and procure the commission of the said offence.”
Standing side by side in the dock of the packed courtroom Sir Jeffrey and Lady Eleanor were treated just like any other defendant, asked to confirm their personal identities, that they were aware of the charges against them and also that they had received the legal papers and statements in the case.
None of the alleged facts giving rise to the charges were opened in court but during a Preliminary Enquiry, the legal step necessary to elevate any criminal case to the Crown Court, prosecuting counsel Fiona O’Kane submitted there was a Prima Facie case against the defendants.
That submission was conceded by defence lawyers Richard Smyth and Ciara Murphy and while the court clerk told the alleged perverts they had the right to comment on the charges and to call evidence on their own behalves, both Sir Jeffrey and Lady Eleanor declined to exercise those rights.
Sir Jeffrey told the clerk “not at this time” and Lady Eleanor said simply “no.”
District Judge Eamon King told the court he was satisfied there was a case to answer so returning the case to Newry Crown Court with the arraignment scheduled to be heard on 10 September, he freed the pair on continuing bail.
Ends
CLANRYE NEWS 