Eleanor Donaldson placed on sex offenders register for five years

Eleanor Donaldson, the wife of former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson, has been placed under a supervision order for three years and placed on the sex offenders' register for five years.

Appearing before Newry Crown Court via video link, a tearful Eleanor Donaldson was told she would be subjected to a supervision treatment order (STO). When Judge Paul Ramsey asked if she understood that she would be subjected to a supervision treatment order, she nodded her head and said "yes".

Eleanor Donaldson could not be given a prison sentence as she faced a 'trial of the facts' as it was determined she was medically unfit for a criminal trial. She was found to have done the acts in relation to five charges, including four of aiding and abetting her husband's offending and one of child cruelty.

During the sentencing hearing, the court heard that three of the counts of aiding and abetting related to the rape of a primary school child. Prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh said the evidence was that Eleanor Donaldson had directed the victim, known as Complainant B, into the room where she knew serious sexual offending would occur.

Both victims were present in court for the brief hearing. Walsh reminded the court of extracts from their victim impact statements, in which Complainant A said it had a "profound" impact on her and she "cannot comprehend not wanting to protect a child". Complainant B said in her victim impact statement that she had questioned why this had happened to her and "what did I do wrong that you didn't make it stop?".

Eleanor Donaldson was not present for the trial of the facts but was represented in court by her own legal team. She is appealing the decision.

Last month her husband Jeffrey Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of child sex offences against two victims, including one count of rape, which took place between 1985 and 2008. The same jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty on one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault on a female and four counts of gross indecency with or towards a child. Jeffrey Donaldson is seeking to appeal against his convictions. Because he qualifies for an automatic 50 per cent remission of his sentence, he will spend 7½ years in prison and the rest on licence.

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