'Every day I pray God will let me die': Jeffrey Donaldson jailed for 15 years for child sex offences with NO remorse
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, received a 15-year sentence at Newry Crown Court after being convicted of 18 historical sex offences committed against two women during their childhoods, among them the rape of one victim at the age of seven or eight. Judge Paul Ramsey said there had not been "one word of regret, apology or shame" and condemned his "catastrophic descent into disgrace." One victim's written statement told the court: "Every day I pray God will let me die." The DUP declared "justice has been done" and said he "deserves every day" of his sentence.
Under automatic 50% remission, Donaldson will serve 7.5 years in custody and 7.5 years on licence.
His wife Eleanor, 60, was ruled to have been complicit in his offending — including being present during some of the abuse — and a separate ruling on her case is due in November.
Donaldson plans to appeal his conviction; one victim said: "My childhood was stolen from me and I will never get it back."
