Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has arrived at court for the start of his trial for a series of alleged historical sexual offences.Proceedings at Newry Crown Court on Tuesday are focused on the process of selecting a jury.Jeffrey Donaldson (63), with an address in Dromore, Co Down, is accused of 18 offences – one count of rape, four counts of gross indecency with or towards a child, and 13 counts of indecent assault on a female, on dates between 1987 and 2008.A trial of the facts of his wife, Eleanor Donaldson, will run concurrently with Jeffrey Donaldson’s trial.Eleanor Donaldson (60) of the same address is charged with five counts of aiding and abetting in connection with charges against her husband.The charges include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a time period between 1985 and 2008 involving two alleged victims.Both Eleanor and Jeffrey Donaldson deny the charges.Donaldson arrived at Newry Courthouse in Co Down shortly after 9am wearing a blue suit with a white shirt and green tie.He was met by his solicitor John McBurney, who accompanied him into the court building.Police had erected metal barriers at the court entrance prior to his arrival to cordon off the waiting media.Last week, Eleanor Donaldson was ruled unfit to stand trial on the basis of medical evidence before the court and will instead face a trial of the facts.Under mental health legislation in Northern Ireland, a trial of the facts takes the place of a criminal trial where a court has ruled the defendant is medically unfit to stand trial.The jury will determine, on the basis of evidence already given, whether the defendant committed the acts they are charged with.It cannot result in a conviction, but the jury can make a finding that the defendant committed the act, or it can acquit.The trial of both defendants was originally due to begin in March 2025, but was postponed twice due to a deterioration in the mental health of Eleanor Donaldson.During a pretrial hearing last week, the court was told the intention is to swear in a jury on Tuesday and for the prosecution to open its case on Wednesday.MP for Lagan Valley, Jeffrey Donaldson resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after he was arrested and charged with sex offences in March 2024.