A woman has admitted an offence of breaching a lifetime ban on publishing information likely to lead to the identification of a victim of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.Donna Toman (55), from the Lord Moira Park area of Ballynahinch, Co Down, appeared before Downpatrick Magistrates’ Court on Monday.Donaldson, a former MP, was convicted by a jury at Newry Crown Court last June of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children. The offences were committed between 1985 and 2008.The two victims at the centre of the Donaldson trial were referred to as Complainant A and Complainant B and both are entitled to lifelong anonymity.No details of the offence by Toman, which was committed on June 26th, were revealed to the court.She faced a charge of publishing a matter on social media that was likely to lead members of the public to identify a victim.District Judge Peter Magill asked whether Toman had “breached a lifetime ban on identifying a victim” and it was confirmed that she was pleading guilty.Toman, who was for many years a popular Dolly Parton impersonator, was present in court wearing a beige top and trousers.The judge said it was a “serious offence” and asked for a pre-sentence report to be completed by October 12th.The current maximum penalty for breaching a victim’s lifetime anonymity is six months’ imprisonment, the court was told.Addressing Toman, the judge said: “I am not making any promises, we will see what the report says.” Donaldson’s legal representative last month announced he was to appeal against his convictions for a string of child sex offences.His wife Eleanor Donaldson (60) was found to have aided and abetted his crimes following a trial of the facts, which was granted on mental health grounds.Donaldson was placed on the sex offenders’ register and is due to be sentenced in September. He is being held at Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim, which is in his former parliamentary constituency of Lagan Valley. Judge Paul Ramsey said at the end of the jury trial that a custodial sentence was inevitable, stating it would be “lengthy”. – PA
Woman admits to publishing information that could identify victim in Jeffrey Donaldson case
Donna Toman (55) could face maximum penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment for breaching order giving complainant lifetime anonymity, court hears






