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The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Judge wants all sides to work towards November trial date for Donaldsons
A judge has said he wants all sides to work towards ensuring the trial of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Lady Donaldson, on charges relating to alleged historical sex offences, goes ahead in November. A previous court hearing had been told that there had been a deterioration in the medical condition of Eleanor Donaldson. A brief review of the case at Newry Crown Court on Thursday heard that an assessment over whether she is currently fit to stand trial will take place next month. The trial had previously been due to start in March, but was delayed because of Eleanor Donaldson's ill health. A new trial date has been set for November 3. Jeffrey Donaldson, 62, who did not attend the hearing on Thursday, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences. The charges include one count of rape as well as allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. The charges span a time period between 1985 and 2008, and there are two alleged victims. Eleanor Donaldson, 59, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, who also did not attend court, is facing charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies. Prosecuting barrister Fiona O' Kane told the court that the hearing had been organised to ensure 'all matters are still on track'. Eleanor Donaldson's barrister, Ciara Ennis, said there was a 'firm date' for her client to see a forensic psychiatrist on July 18. She said: 'There is absolutely no reason I can see at this point that it won't go ahead as planned.' Judge Paul Ramsey said that the case had already been listed for review again on August 1 in Belfast. He said: 'By that stage you should have the report, or at least a summary of the findings of the report. 'The prosecution will then decide what they want to do.' Ms O'Kane said the prosecution had been 'proactive' and had instructed their own psychiatrist, pending the results of the report from the forensic psychiatrist. Judge Ramsey said: 'The other thing we have to keep in mind, that we are moving towards the anticipated date of the trial, which I am anxious to maintain and keep.' Ms O'Kane said: 'There is a triumvirate of interests going on here, obviously the complainants are very keen that this matter is progressed, we have the public at large who have an interest in the case, and then there are the defendants themselves.' Judge Ramsey said: 'I think everybody should work towards that date in any event. Hopefully we will see what matters progress.' Jeffrey Donaldson, the long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, was arrested and charged at the end of March last year. He resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations emerged. Weeks before his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont after a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions. Previous deputy leader Gavin Robinson was appointed his successor as DUP chief.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Jeffrey Donaldson: Judge wants all sides to work towards November trial date
A judge has said he wants all sides to work towards ensuring the trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Eleanor Donaldson, on charges relating to alleged historical sex offences, goes ahead in November. A previous court hearing had been told that there had been a deterioration in the medical condition of Eleanor Donaldson. Advertisement A brief review of the case at Newry Crown Court on Thursday heard that an assessment over whether she is currently fit to stand trial will take place next month. The trial had previously been due to start in March, but was delayed because of Eleanor Donaldson's ill health. A new trial date has been set for November 3rd. Eleanor Donaldson at an earlier court hearing. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Jeffrey Donaldson (62), who did not attend the hearing on Thursday, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences. Advertisement The charges include one count of rape as well as allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. The charges span a time period between 1985 and 2008, and there are two alleged victims. Eleanor Donaldson (59), of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, who also did not attend court, is facing charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies. Prosecuting barrister Fiona O'Kane told the court that the hearing had been organised to ensure 'all matters are still on track'. Advertisement Eleanor Donaldson's barrister, Ciara Ennis, said there was a 'firm date' for her client to see a forensic psychiatrist on July 18th. She said: 'There is absolutely no reason I can see at this point that it won't go ahead as planned.' Judge Paul Ramsey said that the case had already been listed for review again on August 1st in Belfast. He said: 'By that stage you should have the report, or at least a summary of the findings of the report. Advertisement 'The prosecution will then decide what they want to do.' Ms O'Kane said the prosecution had been 'proactive' and had instructed their own psychiatrist, pending the results of the report from the forensic psychiatrist. Judge Ramsey said: 'The other thing we have to keep in mind, that we are moving towards the anticipated date of the trial, which I am anxious to maintain and keep.' Ms O'Kane said: 'There is a triumvirate of interests going on here, obviously the complainants are very keen that this matter is progressed, we have the public at large who have an interest in the case, and then there are the defendants themselves.' Advertisement Judge Ramsey said: 'I think everybody should work towards that date in any event. Hopefully we will see what matters progress.' Jeffrey Donaldson, the long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, was arrested and charged at the end of March last year. Ireland Jeffrey Donaldson sex abuse case delayed as wife '... Read More He resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations emerged. Weeks before his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont after a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions. Previous deputy leader Gavin Robinson was appointed his successor as DUP chief.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Jeffrey Donaldson case: Judge asks all sides to work towards November trial date
A judge has said he wants all sides to work towards ensuring the trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Eleanor Donaldson, on charges relating to alleged historical sex offences, goes ahead in November. A previous court hearing had been told that there had been a deterioration in the medical condition of Ms Donaldson . A brief review of the case at Newry Crown Court on Thursday heard that an assessment over whether she is currently fit to stand trial will take place next month. The trial had previously been due to start in March, but was delayed because of Ms Donaldson's ill health. READ MORE A new trial date has been set for November 3rd. Mr Donaldson (62), who did not attend the hearing on Thursday, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences. The charges include one count of rape as well as allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. The charges span a time period between 1985-2008, and there are two alleged victims. Ms Donaldson (59), of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, who also did not attend court, is facing charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies. Prosecuting barrister Fiona O'Kane told the court that the hearing had been organised to ensure 'all matters are still on track'. Ms Donaldson's barrister, Ciara Ennis, said there was a 'firm date' for her client to see a forensic psychiatrist on July 18th. 'There is absolutely no reason I can see at this point that it won't go ahead as planned,' Ms Ennis said. Judge Paul Ramsey said that the case had already been listed for review again on August 1st in Belfast. 'By that stage you should have the report, or at least a summary of the findings of the report,' the judge said. 'The prosecution will then decide what they want to do.' Ms O'Kane said the prosecution had been 'proactive' and had instructed their own psychiatrist, pending the results of the report from the forensic psychiatrist. 'The other thing we have to keep in mind, that we are moving towards the anticipated date of the trial, which I am anxious to maintain,' the judge said. Ms O'Kane said: 'There is a triumvirate of interests going on here, obviously the complainants are very keen that this matter is progressed, we have the public at large who have an interest in the case, and then there are the defendants themselves.' 'I think everybody should work towards that date in any event. Hopefully we will see what matters progress,' the judge said. Mr Donaldson, the long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, was arrested and charged at the end of March last year. He resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations emerged. Weeks before his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont after a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions. Previous deputy leader Gavin Robinson was appointed his successor as DUP chief. - PA
BBC News
11-06-2025
- BBC News
Canon Patrick McEntee: Priest found guilty of eight counts of historical abuse
A priest has been found guilty of eight counts of historical indecent assault against five young Patrick McEntee, 71, from Esker Road in Dromore, County Tyrone faced a total of nine counts of indecent assault dating back to the late who was a teacher at St Michael's College in Enniskillen, had denied all the was found not guilty on one charge of indecent assault. Canon McEntee was charged with four counts of indecent assault on one male between 1988 and was also a single count of indecently assaulting a second male between 1980 and were a further four counts of indecent assault against three males that occurred between 1978 and prosecution told the court that during the late 1970s into the 1980s Canon McEntee abused young boys who were pupils at St Michael' priest took the boys, who were aged between 11 and 17, into his private quarters where some of the boys were made to sit on his knee or touched jury was told it would have to decide if the priest's action "was pastoral care or sexual deviance". Victims speak of priest's abuse During a police interview, Canon McEntee denied ever having touched boys in the way described saying the allegation was "outrageous".During his second police interview Canon McEntee provided a written statement saying he "categorically denied the allegations" and then refused to answer police the trial at Dungannon Court, the jury heard from the five men who accused Canon McEntee of inappropriate told how he was abused "weekly" by the outlined how he'd been made to sit on the priests' knee as he sang the "horsey horsey" nursery rhyme and was touched on his bottom.A third complaint outlined how Canon McEntee had brought a young boy into his personal quarters after he had been "messing about" in class, and how the priest took his trousers down and assaulted him. Accounts 'chillingly similar' The prosecution said that the accounts from the five witnesses were "chillingly similar".Mr McHugh KC asked the jury "why has lightning struck not once but five times".Canon McEntee told the trial that he was "bewildered" by the trial heard that Canon McEntee was a man of "good character" with no prior defence team pointed out inconsistencies in some of the accusations, using pictures to dispute recollections of the priests' private quarters, what the floor covering was and where windows were defence also questioned why some of the accusations were only made after newspaper reports about allegations against Canon McEntee had been the trial, two past pupils told the court that Canon McEntee was an "complete gentleman" who "embodied Christian values" and was well-respected among the pupils and teachers at St. Michaels. 'Significant' sentence Originally from County Monaghan, Canon McEntee taught religious studies at St Michael's and was college president from 1994 until has been a priest for more than 45 years and has been the parish priest of St Davog's in Dromore since March 2023, the Diocese of Clogher announced he had been granted a leave of absence while an alleged safeguarding issue was McEntee was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing in Richard Greene told McEntee that he would face "a significant custodial sentence".
The Independent
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
‘Significant deterioration' in Eleanor Donaldson's medical condition, court told
There has been a deterioration in the medical condition of the wife of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, a court has been told. A barrister said the court is waiting on an assessment over whether Lady Eleanor Donaldson is fit to stand trial later this year, on charges relating to alleged historical sex offences. The trial had previously been due to start in March, but was delayed due to Eleanor Donaldson's medical condition. Jeffrey Donaldson, 62, who did not attend the hearing at Newry Crown Court on Thursday, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences. The charges include one count of rape as well as allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. The charges span a time period between 1985 and 2008, and there are two alleged victims. Eleanor Donaldson, 59, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, who also did not attend court, is facing charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies. A new trial date has been set for November 3. Reviewing the case, Judge Paul Ramsey said he had been furnished with three separate medical reports in respect of Eleanor Donaldson. Barrister for Eleanor Donaldson Ian Turkington KC said: 'We have put that medical evidence in place and sadly you will see there has been a significant mental deterioration. 'Those aren't my words, those are the words you'll see from the consultant psychiatrist. 'What we don't have is any assessment in relation to her capacity (to stand trial), that is really the next step.' Mr Turkington said an appointment was scheduled with a forensic psychiatrist on July 19. Judge Ramsey said he would review the case again before the end of the legal term on June 26 and again at the start of the next term on August 1. The judge said neither defendant needed to attend court on either date. Prosecuting barrister Fiona O' Kane said she was 'keen to keep hold of the momentum' in the case. She added: 'We have lost a trial date. It is not an inconsiderable amount of time since this case first arrived in the crown court. 'We have five full months now until the trial … we want to make sure the court is kept appraised at every stage.' Jeffrey Donaldson, the long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, was arrested and charged at the end of March last year. He resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations emerged. Weeks before his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont after a two-year boycott of the powersharing institutions. Previous deputy leader Gavin Robinson was appointed his successor as DUP chief.
