Two women who were victims of sex offences perpetrated by former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson when they were children have spoken about the lasting impact of his actions.
Donaldson has been given a 15-year jail sentence for the sex offences committed between 1985 and 2008. The two victims gave evidence against him during the trial.
Evidence given at trial
Complainant A gave evidence of inappropriate touching and kissing by Donaldson and an incident where he used a light to examine her genitals. Complainant B told the trial she had been raped as a child of primary school age by Donaldson and later sexually assaulted by him.
The police released lengthy anonymised statements from the women on Thursday, portions of which are reproduced below.
Victims' statements
Complainant A said: “My childhood was stolen from me and I will never get it back. The effects of the Donaldsons’ 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.”
Complainant B said: “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 Donaldsons 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.”
