A woman who claims she was raped by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says she didn't report the politician to police earlier because she 'tried not to be a victim'. The woman, known as complainant B, is the older of two alleged victims who have accused the former DUP leader, 63, of sexual abuse between 1985 and 2008. Newry Crown Court heard how the first woman blamed herself for the subsequent abuse of the other accuser, as she said: 'It's my fault what happened.' Complainant B claimed she was raped by Donaldson when she was of primary school age, it was heard earlier.Ten of the 18 sex abuse charges against the ex-politician relate to complainant B, with the offences allegedly committed between 1985 and 1991.Eleanor Donaldson, from Dublinhill Road, Dromore, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband's alleged offending. She is facing a trial of the facts.Barrister for Donaldson, Kieran Vaughan KC, continued his cross-examination of complainant B on Wednesday. It was heard how the woman first disclosed her alleged abuse to a woman connected to the Christian Family Centre in Armoy, County Antrim, but denied she did so as a means of leaving the centre. Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is pictured arriving at Newry Crown Court on Wednesday, June 3 Donaldson is accused of sexually abusing two women over a period spanning 1985 to 2008Mr Vaughan said the woman had been sent to the facility after she had started to take drugs in her teenage years. She told the court that she had taken ecstasy and marijuana, but denied that she was addicted to the substances.The barrister said: 'That is the background to how you ended up in Armoy.'She responded: 'Yes.'He said: 'You didn't enjoy being taken to Armoy at that time?'She said: 'I didn't know anybody. It was so far away.'Complainant B added that she originally thought her issues could have been 'dealt with at home', but said going there 'turned out probably one of the best things that ever happened to me'.The barrister said that the woman had spoken to another lady at the facility - and the witness confirmed she had told her about alleged abuse by Donaldson, but did not go into detail. Mr Vaughan said: 'Did you tell her it was sexual abuse?'She said: 'I am pretty sure I did.'When asked if she had told her about the alleged rape, the woman said she had never told anybody about that before she told police.The barrister asked: 'Was this in some way a part of you trying to get out of Armoy?'She responded: 'No, I had friends up there. It wasn't that in any way whatsoever.'Asked if it was an attempt to deflect, she said 'definitely not'.The barrister said she had then spoken to a pastor at the centre about the allegations.She said: 'I felt he was a safe person to say this to.'Mr Vaughan asked why her conversation with the pastor was not in her statement to police.Complainant B responded: 'It was just something I forgot about … I should have remembered.'The barrister then asked if she remembered the pastor saying he would go to the police - but the woman said she didn't remember. Mr Vaughan continued by asking her if she had told the pastor not to go to police, and that if he did, she would say it was 'all a lie'.She said: 'I don't remember that. If I did it would have been the stupidest thing I ever said.'Complainant B added: 'I should have said, "please go, I will go with you".''I should have, I was so afraid of this, of what this is. I didn't want it to be made a thing of, I was so embarrassed.'I tried to move on, to be the bigger person. I tried not to be the victim, I tried to build a life.'Complainant B said she blamed herself for the later alleged abuse of the other complainant in the case.She said: 'It is my fault what happened.'The court had previously heard complainant B state that Donaldson had met her at the Christian centre and apologised.The barrister asked her if she remembered saying during this meeting that Donaldson 'hadn't made her comfortable'.She said she did not remember.He asked if she remembered Donaldson saying 'if that was the way he made her feel, then he apologised'.She said: 'The reason why he was there was to apologise. He pushed my legs apart, that is the truth of what had happened.'Wednesday's proceedings saw complainant B complete her evidence. The trial will hear from its third witness on Thursday. Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 sex abuse charges, including one count of rape.
Jeffrey Donaldson accuser explains why she didn't report it sooner
The woman, known as complainant B, is the older of two alleged victims who have accused the former DUP leader, 63, of sexual abuse.










