'Every day I pray God will let me die': ex-DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson jailed for 15 years for child sex offences
Jeffrey Donaldson, who led the Democratic Unionist Party before his arrest, faces sentencing today after being convicted of 18 counts of sexual abuse against two victims who were children when the offences took place.Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Eleanor, who was found to have aided and abetted his crimes but cannot be imprisoned on mental health grounds.
Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, showed no emotion as Judge Paul Ramsey delivered his sentence at Newry Crown Court, calling the former DUP leader's conviction a "catastrophic descent into disgrace". The 18 offences — including rape — date from 1985 to 2008 and were committed against two women during their childhoods. His wife Eleanor was convicted of aiding and abetting him and will face a further hearing in November. The DUP said he "deserves every day" of his sentence.
One victim said she grew up feeling "ashamed and dirty"; the other described a "stolen childhood" and said abuse had affected every relationship she had ever had.
The judge told Donaldson there had "not been, and doubtless will not be, one word of regret, apology or shame" from him to give his victims even a crumb of comfort.
Donaldson, stripped of his knighthood this year, intends to appeal his conviction and will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
