Eleanor Donaldson lodges appeal against verdict that she aided and abetted husband Jeffrey's child sex abuse

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Eleanor Donaldson's legal team has lodged a leave-to-appeal application with the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland, challenging the finding that she committed the acts across all five charges. Four of those charges related to aiding and abetting the offending of her husband Jeffrey Donaldson, the former DUP leader convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse — including rape — against two women who were children at the time. Eleanor Donaldson underwent a separate fact-finding hearing after being deemed unfit to face a standard trial on mental health grounds, which means a custodial sentence cannot be imposed. A judge is set to rule in October on whether to make a treatment order or grant her an absolute discharge.

Jeffrey Donaldson's solicitor has confirmed he is also to appeal against his own convictions.

Northern Ireland's justice and health ministers have jointly commissioned a review of the legal framework governing trials of the facts, with an external reviewer to be appointed and work expected to conclude by February 2027.