Jeffrey Donaldson takes the stand in sex abuse trial

The former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has taken the witness stand at his trial on sex abuse charges at Newry Crown Court.

He was called to give evidence by his defence barrister, Kieran Vaughan KC.

Sir Jeffrey, 63, denies 18 sex abuse charges, allegedly committed between 1985 and 2008.

The trial is in its third week.

There are two alleged victims in the trial, both of whom reported their allegations to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in March 2024.

Sir Jeffrey denies acts of gross indecency and indecent assault against Complainant A when she was a child, between 1999 and 2008.

Other alleged offences, dating back to 1985, including a charge of rape, relate to a second woman, Complainant B, when she was also a child, which he also denies.

His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson denies five charges of aiding and abetting his alleged offending.

Lady Donaldson faces a trial of the facts after she was previously deemed unfit to face a conventional trial on mental health grounds, and is therefore not participating in proceedings.