Jury resumes deliberations in Sir Jeffrey Donaldson sex abuse trial

Factual coreconfirmed by several independent voices

• The jury at Newry Crown Court is considering its verdict for a second day after deliberating for three hours and 10 minutes on Thursday.

  reliability moderate2/4 sources

• The 63-year-old former MP has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

  reliability moderate2/4 sources

• Both women allege they were abused as children.

  reliability moderate2/4 sources

• Donaldson spent two days giving evidence during the trial.

  reliability moderate2/4 sources

• Complainants A and B have both given evidence at the trial.

  reliability moderate3/5 sources

• The charges include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a period between 1985 and 2008 involving two alleged victims.

  reliability moderate2/2 sources

Reported detailssecondary facts, each attributed to its source

• His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, from Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending.

  according to Belfast Live +2

• Updated / Friday, 19 Jun 2026 10:26 Jeffrey Donaldson pictured as he arrived at Newry Crown Court this morning The jury in the Jeffrey Donaldson sex offences trial has resumed considering its verdict.

  according to RTE News

• 10 hours ago Julian O'Neill Crime and justice correspondent, BBC News NI PA Media The jury in the sex abuse trial of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson have not yet reached a verdict and will continue their deliberations on Friday morning.

  according to BBC News - Politics

• The jury of seven men and five women had not reached a verdict after three hours and 10 minutes of deliberations on Thursday, and was sent home for the night.

  according to The Irish Times

• The charges relate to two women who claim Jeffrey Donaldson abused them when they were children from the ages of about seven or eight to 12 or 13.

  according to The Irish Times

• Donaldson (63), with an address in Dromore, Co Down , faces 18 charges – rape, four counts of gross indecency with or towards a child, and 13 counts of indecent assault on a female on dates between 1985 and 2008.

  according to The Irish Times

• The seven men and five women were sent out by Judge Paul Ramsey to begin their deliberations at about 13:20 BST.

  according to BBC News - Politics

• Sir Jeffrey, 63, is accused of rape, four counts of gross indecency and 13 counts of indecent assault.

  according to BBC News - Politics

• Alamy Stock Photo Newry Crown Court The former DUP leader is accused of 18 historical sex offences.

  according to TheJournal.ie

• The former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges, including one count of rape, arising from allegations he sexually abused two women when they were children.

  according to BBC News - Politics

Disputedincompatible versions — to verify

No factual contradiction detected between sources.

Framing by sidesame fact, different words — loaded terms highlighted

No notable framing divergence.

Blind spotwhat one side keeps silent

• The jury at Newry Crown Court is considering its verdict for a second day after deliberating for three hours and 10 minutes on Thursday.

  omitted byLeft sidePublic / Agenciescovered byCenterRight side

• The 63-year-old former MP has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

  omitted byLeft sidePublic / Agenciescovered byCenterRight side

• Both women allege they were abused as children.

  omitted byLeft sidePublic / Agenciescovered byCenterRight side

• Donaldson spent two days giving evidence during the trial.

  omitted byLeft sidePublic / Agenciescovered byCenterRight side

• Complainants A and B have both given evidence at the trial.

  omitted byLeft sidecovered byCenterRight sidePublic / Agencies

Sources9 sources cross-checked

Story timelinehow this story developed, day by day