Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland, will remain free on bail of less than €400, according to a court in the city of Newry that will consider eleven charges of sexual offenses brought against him by the Regional police. His wife, Eleanor, who is also out on bail, is accused of encouraging and collaborating in the commission of the crimes.
Although the identity of the two complainants is known to a large part of Northern Irish society, the opening of police and judicial proceedings has led to the promulgation of an order prohibiting the provision of information that would contribute to their identification. Both Donaldson and his wife have expressed through their lawyers their intention to “vigorously reject” the charges.
The most serious is rape, the second is serious sexual abuse and the remaining nine are sexual assault. They would have been committed over a period of twenty years and, in the version published by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), they would have occurred in a “not recent” time. The case has caused a large gathering of Irish and foreign media in front of the court in the border city.
The announcement of Donaldson's arrest, which occurred last Good Friday, has shaken Northern Irish society and the governance of the complex province. Institutions in Belfast and London mobilized to prevent the recently restored edifice of autonomy from collapsing again. The DUP's senior council unanimously appointed deputy leader Gavin Robinson as temporary leader.
Next hearing, May 22
The Newry court's decision to summon the defendants to a next hearing, on May 22, suggests that the judicial process may extend for a few months. Cooperation in the Belfast Assembly promotes confidence in the resilience of the institutions, but the DUP's internal circumstances are not robust.
Robinson was Donaldson's right-hand man in negotiating the agreement with the London Government that allowed the restoration of Parliament and the Executive. But what DUP members describe as the “Donaldson deal” has not removed the physical obstacles with the rest of the United Kingdom necessary for the province to remain in the common market.
Customs controls continue and the construction of new border posts at the port of Larne is progressing. In the council of senior officials, without the presence of Donaldson, there is a difference of 6 against 5 in favor of the agreement. And, at some point, the DUP will have to convene the largest Executive to ratify Robinson as leader.
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