Two witnesses who have accused Sir Jeffrey Donaldson of sexual offences are not “sufficiently reliable enough” for the jury to find him guilty, a barrister has told a court. The former DUP leader’s barrister, Kieran Vaughan, also urged the jury to “ignore the noise and focus on the evidence” when considering their verdicts.
Charges and Allegations
Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences, including one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. The charges span a period between 1985 and 2008 and involve two alleged victims, referred to as Complainants A and B. Both women allege they were abused as children.
Defence Closing Speech
On Wednesday, Mr Vaughan continued his closing speech by addressing allegations made by Complainant A. He described an incident where A alleged Donaldson used a light to stare at her genitals as a “misunderstanding.” He stated, “She has proven herself to be a very, very unreliable witness.” Mr Vaughan pointed out that Complainant A had described her memories of the incident as “foggy,” adding, “She is not sure about the very thing the prosecution invite you to be sure about.”
Regarding a separate allegation that Donaldson had rubbed A’s breasts, Mr Vaughan said it lacks “any semblance of credibility.” He argued that her evidence showed she “is a witness who is capable of telling a terrible untruth,” and capable of “leaving things out of her evidence if she thinks it suits her own ends” and “adding things in if she thinks it suits her own ends.”
Trial of the Facts for Lady Donaldson
Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 60, from Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending. She is facing a trial of the facts on mental health grounds, which tests the evidence but cannot result in a criminal conviction.
Conclusion of Defence Argument
Mr Vaughan concluded, “I end where I began – ignore the noise, focus on the evidence.” He said if the jury does so, “you will see there are significant and fundamental issues” with the credibility of each complainant. “They are not sufficiently reliable enough to drive you to a sure conclusion that he is guilty,” he added, inviting the jury to find Donaldson not guilty of all allegations. The trial continues.
