Jeffrey Donaldson's letter to alleged victim had nothing to do' with abuse claims, trial hears

A court heard that Jeffrey Donaldson told an alleged victim he regretted causing hurt, pain, and distress, but his comments were said to be unrelated to the sexual assault allegations. A lawyer for Donaldson told the court that a 2020 letter referenced other behavior and did not mention sexual abuse. The complainant said the letter carried connotations of guilt and shame and functioned as an apology for harm over many years. Donaldson faces 18 charges, including rape, spanning 1985 to 2008 and involving two alleged victims, while his wife faces charges for aiding and abetting rape and indecent assault. Both deny all charges, and testimony included disputes about the details of alleged touching and use of a light.

"A lawyer for the former MP and Democratic Unionist party leader told Newry crown court on Friday that Donaldson's letter to the alleged victim had nothing to do with her accusations of sexual abuse and referred to other behaviour. On the fourth day of the trial, Kieran Vaughan KC put it to the complainant, known as Witness A, that she was mistaken in linking the letter to his alleged historical sex offences. She said the letter, written in 2020, did not mention sexual abuse but had connotations of guilt and shame and requested forgiveness."

"I believe that letter is a letter of apology for what he did to me over the years. He is a very clever man, he would never write in writing what he had done but he could heavily suggest. Donaldson, 63, faces 18 charges, including one count of rape, which span from 1985 to 2008 and involve two alleged victims. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, is charged with aiding and abetting rape and indecent assault. Both deny all the charges."

"Vaughan contrasted Witness A's allegation that Donaldson had touched her breasts on a number of occasions when she was of primary school age and that it was mostly skin on skin with her comment to police about touching over clothing. On the face of it that is inconsistent with what you told the jury yesterday, about touching under clothes, said Vaughan. Witness A replied: The facts are the facts, I am sticking to that."

"Vaughan challenged her account, made in a police interview, that Donaldson had perched over her and used a light to look at her private parts. I suggest that is not true, he said. You were confused and you were not"

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