Jeffrey Donaldson appears in court charged with historical sex offences including count of rape

Jeffrey Donaldson left arrives at Newry Magistrates’ Court.

FORMER DUP LEADER Jeffrey Donaldson has been released on bail after appearing in Newry Magistrates’ Court charged with a number of historical sex charges, including one count of rape.

Donaldson spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and that he understood the charges.

Bail was set at £350 and the case was set down to be heard again on 22 May, a date on which Donaldson will not need to attend.

The 61-year-old politician was arrested and charged in relation to historical sexual allegations at the end of March.

The charges span a 21-year period and relate to two alleged victims.

Included in the charges is one of committing an “act of gross indecency towards a child”, between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006.

Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor Donaldson, also appeared in court to face charges in relation to the same police investigation – including aiding and abetting in relation to the rape charge against Donaldson.

Similarly, she only spoke to confirm her name and date of birth and that she understood the charges of aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences.

The pair stood in the dock together for the brief hearing, with a PSNI officer between them.

Donaldson arrived at Newry Magistrates Court at about 9.30am and did not speak to the large group of assembled media outside.

Jeffrey Donaldson leaving Newry Magistrates’ Court this afternoon

The courthouse can accommodate fewer than 40 people and special arrangements had to be made to facilitate the large number of media present.

Some journalists and members of the legal system were able to watch the proceedings remotely but before the hearing began, Judge Eamonn King sternly warned against recording proceedings and reminded that it is a criminal offence to do so.

He cautioned that the live stream would be “severed” if he got the “impression that someone is recording these proceedings with the intention of reproducing them on any form of social media platform”.

Eleanor Donaldson left the court first at around noon, and Jeffrey Donaldson followed just over half an hour later.

It took two attempts for Jeffrey Donaldson to successfully leave the courthouse, and a large crowd gathered on both occassions.

On the first occassion, the car was not ready to collect him and he had to go back into the courthouse.

When he reappeared, a large crowd surrounded the car before he left Newry Courthouse.

There had been a bail condition barring contact between Jeffrey Donaldson and Eleanor Donaldson, but this was said by defence lawyers to be “no longer relevant” and has been removed.

On 29 March, the DUP said it had received a letter from Donaldson stating that he had been charged with allegations of a historical nature and that he would be stepping down as leader.

Donaldson was then suspended from the DUP pending the outcome of the judicial process, with East Belfast MP and deputy leader Gavin Robinson appointed as interim party leader.

It was reported in recent weeks that Donaldson plans to “strenuously contest” the charges against him.