Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleLady Eleanor Donaldson, wife of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, has been ruled unfit to stand trial in a historical sexual offences case after medical evidence was heard. The ruling means Eleanor Donaldson will face a trial of the facts, a process that tests evidence but cannot lead to a criminal conviction. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who resigned as DUP leader, is a co-defendant in the case, having pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences, including rape and indecent assault. The charges against Sir Jeffrey span a period between 1985 and 2008 and involve two alleged victims, while Eleanor Donaldson denies charges of aiding and abetting. A judge is set to rule on Thursday whether Eleanor Donaldson's trial of the facts will run alongside Sir Jeffrey's trial, which was previously listed to start on 26 May. Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Eleanor Donaldson ruled unfit for trial in historic sex offences case
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleLady Eleanor Donaldson, wife of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, has been ruled unfit to stand trial in a historical sexual offences case after medical evidence was heard. The ruling means Eleanor Donaldson will face a trial of the facts, a process that tests evidence but cannot lead to a criminal conviction. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who resigned as DUP leader, is a co-defendant in the case, having pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences, including rape and indecent assault. The charges against Sir Jeffrey span a period between 1985 and 2008 and involve two alleged victims, while Eleanor Donaldson denies charges of aiding and abetting. A judge is set to rule on Thursday whether Eleanor Donaldson's trial of the facts will run alongside Sir Jeffrey's trial, which was previously listed to start on 26 May. Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
