At Newry Crown Court, 63-year-old Jeffrey Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years for 18 non-recent child sexual abuse offences, including the rape of a child under the age of 13. He will remain on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and is subject to a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

His wife, 60-year-old Eleanor Donaldson, was found—following a trial of the facts—to have done the acts alleged in relation to five charges, including four counts of aiding and abetting her husband's abuse.

The pair were arrested at their home on the morning of Thursday 28 March 2024 after police received reports from two female victims. Now adults, both victims were just seven years old when the abuse began, with offending spanning the years 1985-2008. After being taken to the Antrim custody suite, both were interviewed for several hours and denied the allegations.

Detectives said Donaldson manipulated the children and exploited the trust they placed in him for his own sexual gratification. According to both victims' accounts, Eleanor was on several occasions either explicitly told about the abuse or witnessed his sexual advances first-hand.

Both victims issued anonymised statements:

Victim A: "My childhood was stolen from me and I will never get it back. The effects of the Donaldson's actions have bled into every part of my life. Although the offences happened in the past, their impact did not end when the abuse ended.

"For years I carried shame, anger and guilt, and questioned whether I was worth protecting or worthy of being loved. I learnt to survive by shutting away my emotions, trusting no one and expecting people to hurt me. I became strong, resilient and fiercely independent, but those qualities came at a cost. I should never have had to become this strong.

"The last few years have been nothing short of a battle. The conviction does not erase the abuse or undo the impact of what happened to me, and I will always carry the consequences of it. But those responsible do not control me now. They forever changed me, but they will not take my future. The cycle is being broken and it ends with me."

Victim B: "What happened to me as a child has affected everything since then, every day and every relationship I have ever had. At times I wonder who I would be if this hadn't happened to me. What would it be like not to be afraid at night, not to wake up shaking, not to have nightmares and not to lock away every feeling I have?

"What happened took away my ability to trust people and, in all honesty, I don't think I really know what trust or love truly is. Nothing can ever change what was done to me. I wish it could. "I stood up, many years later, because for me this is about drawing a line in the sand and knowing that the Donaldson's can no longer hurt anyone else. Many people get to look ahead and plan their lives with hope, I've never known what that feels like. My hope was taken away from me a long time ago."

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Leah Crothers, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Public Protection Branch, said: "My team and I welcome today's sentencing. Our job as police officers is to pursue a criminal justice outcome and today we have done just that.

"As a police service, we know the impact that serious sexual crime has on victims and we have approached this case as we do all others, focusing on the perpetrators and supporting the victims.

"The abuse of two young girls at the hands of Jeffrey Donaldson occurred between the years 1985-2008. Living in silence and fear of the repercussions of telling someone or of not being believed, both brave women have suffered immeasurably as they come to terms with what happened to them as children. He robbed them both of their childhood and innocence.

"I would like to take the opportunity to commend their bravery in pursuing justice, it is no mean feat in sensitive and highly scrutinised cases such as this. They have been subjected to speculation online and in the media with their legal right to anonymity being jeopardised in the process and yet they remained steadfastly supportive of the criminal justice process.

"We have worked tirelessly on this case to safeguard the victims and build a robust case against this man and his wife who's offending has shocked our local communities.

"Today is an important one. The police service and our criminal justice system has sent a clear message, no one is above the law."

Police said detectives and prosecutors worked closely from the outset to manage the complexities of the case and support the victims through each stage. Today's outcome reflects the independent yet collaborative partnership between the PSNI and the Public Prosecution Service.

The PSNI is appealing to anyone with concerns or suspicions about the abuse of an adult or a child to come forward. If you are now an adult and were abused as a child, it is never too late to seek justice. Report by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. If you are not ready to contact police, support is available via the PSNI's partner organisations: www.psni.police.uk/safety-and-support/keeping-safe/protecting-yourself/sexual-violence-and-abuse