Former DUP leader denies historical sex abuse charges

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 historical sexual abuse charges.

His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, has also pleaded not guilty to three charges of aiding and abetting.

The couple appeared at Newry Crown Court in County Down.

The 61-year-old former MP and his wife, 58, were arrested at their home in March this year and subsequently charged.

He faces one charge of rape, four of gross indecency and 13 of indecent assault over a 23-year period between 1985 and 2008.

The offences relate to two alleged victims.

The defence team for Eleanor Donaldson, who is contesting three charges including aiding and abetting, has applied to have two other charges against her withdrawn.

It was their first time in crown court following two previous appearances before magistrates, where a judge ruled there was enough evidence to send them for trial.

They both said “not guilty” to each of the charges as they were read out.

The trial is set to begin on 24 March and is expected to last two weeks.

Judge Paul Ramsey said there would also be a case review on 25 October, but they were not required to attend.

Read more from Sky News:
Early release prisoners could be housed in budget hotels
The Spectator magazine sold to hedge fund tycoon
31 charged over Cardiff riot after teenagers killed on e-bike

Jeffrey Donaldson resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations against him emerged – he also chose not to stand for re-election as an MP.

In a letter to the party, he said he would be strenuously contesting the charges.

Weeks prior to his arrest, he led the DUP back into Stormont following a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions.

Previous deputy leader Gavin Robinson has been appointed his successor as DUP leader.

Jeffrey Donaldson, who had been MP for Lagan Valley for 27 years, was knighted for his services to politics in 2016.