Former DUP leader Donaldson sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex abuse

Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson is due to be sentenced for child sex abuse, including rape, on Thursday.

He was convicted in June of 18 counts of sex abuse, which he committed against two women when they were children.

Donaldson was previously told by judge Paul Ramsey that the sentence would be a lengthy one.

The 63-year-old, who is seeking to appeal his convictions, arrived at Newry Crown Court from Maghaberry Prison where he has been awaiting sentencing.

His wife Eleanor Donaldson had faced a trial of the facts on mental health grounds, meaning the jury was asked to find out if she did the acts or did not do the acts of which she was accused. She did not participate in proceedings.

The jury found that she had done the acts in relation to all five charges – including four counts of aiding and abetting her husband's offending.

In the wake of Jeffery Donaldson's conviction, the DUP launched an independent review into a "number of issues arising following the conviction".

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) also launched an independent safeguarding review into Donaldson's conduct during his 21-year membership of the party.

Donaldson was a member of the UUP between 1982 and 2003 before joining the DUP.

In July, Donaldson was stripped of his knighthood by the King.

Last month, a review by the Northern Ireland Assembly into Donaldson's conduct during his time at Stormont found "no relevant information" requiring further investigation.

Staff in the civil service were asked to come forward with any experiences of abuse or inappropriate behaviour during Donaldson's time as a junior minister.