Prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh delivered closing arguments at the sex offences trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson in Newry. The trial has entered its fourth week, with Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, accused of 18 offences including rape, gross indecency with a child, and indecent assault on a female.
Prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh delivered closing arguments at the sex offences trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson in Newry. Walsh said the alleged victims knew their decision to go to police in March 2024 would have 'utterly life changing consequences'.
The trial has entered its fourth week, with Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, accused of 18 offences including rape, gross indecency with a child, and indecent assault on a female. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, is charged with five counts of aiding and abetting. The prosecution barrister told the jury that the two women in the case, known as Complainant A and Complainant B, were 'conditioned' to abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Donaldson, a 'confident and charismatic individual'.
Walsh said these behaviours were normalised and that the women had 'locked away' and suppressed their feelings as a coping mechanism. Complainant A had faced criticism over why she did not go to police earlier, but Walsh said this was a 'huge, huge decision' that was 'not made lightly'. In relation to Complainant B, who claims she was raped by Donaldson when she was a child, she 'blamed herself'.
The prosecution barrister rejected suggestions that the two women had got together and 'concocted' their allegations, saying they had made previous disclosures to other people and only met in January 2024. Walsh told the jury that they had to assess if they were sure that the women were telling the truth. The trial will continue with the prosecution's closing submissions
Please follow us on Google to support usJeffrey Donaldson Sex Offences Trial Newry DUP Leader Prosecution Barrister Rosemary Walsh Complainant A Complainant B Rape Gross Indecency Indecent Assault
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