Jeffrey Donaldson’s trial is nearing its end. The court has now heard the closing arguments – all that remains is for the judge to give directions to the jury.  

 On Wednesday, Donaldson’s barrister told the jury the complainants were “not sufficiently reliable enough to drive you to a sure conclusion that he is guilty”.  

 63-year-old Jeffrey Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences which include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency.  

 His wife Eleanor Donaldson’s barrister asked the jury to end her nightmare by returning verdicts that she did not do the acts alleged.  

 The sixty-year-old from Dublinhill Road in Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending.  

She is facing a trial of the facts to test the evidence in the case but cannot result in a criminal conviction.  

 Allison Morris was in court.   

The BelTel brings you some of Northern Ireland's top journalists, Allison Morris, Sam McBride and Suzanne Breen to name but a few, giving you the inside stories behind what is in the news. Presented by Ciarán Dunbar, the Bel Tel investigates, debates and informs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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Donaldson Trial: Evidence “not sufficiently reliable” to convict, court hears  

Noah Donohoe’s remains were found in a storm drain in north Belfast on June 27, 2020. 

 

The 14-year-old had gone missing six days earlier.  

 

A post-mortem examination found that the likely cause of death was drowning. 

 

The inquest into his death, which is being heard before a jury, is in its 20th week. 

 

The jury has now heard from Detective Chief Inspector Tom Phillips. He was the senior investigating officer tasked with finding Noah and is the inquest’s final witness. 

 

He told the court that Police may ‘never have answers’ to some questions around Noah’s death. 

 

Liam Tunney is covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph. 

Noah Donohoe: ‘Questions over teen’s death may never be answered’, final witness tells inquest 

Katie Simpson was a talented showjumper whose short adult life centred around the equine industry she'd grown up in. So, when first responders collected her, unconscious and not breathing, from the care of Jonathan Creswell, who would eventually be charged with her murder, police initially believed his claim that he'd found her hanging at home.

Creswell died by suicide in the early days of his trial. Since then, Ms Simpson’s story has been covered at length in documentaries, podcasts, a Police Ombudsman’s report, an independent case review, and a book by Nicola Tallant. 

Although a tragic death among the showjumping set is far from her regular Crime World beat, Tallant believes Simpson’s is a dark story with more yet to be told.

This episode contains material that may be distressing. Please take care while listening.

Host: Fionnán Sheehan | Guest: Nicola Tallant (author of Groomed: Coercion, Control and a Cold-blooded Murder, and investigations editor at the Sunday World)

Nicola Tallant on why Katie Simpson’s tragic murder leaves so many unanswered questions

A prosecution barrister has told a jury that the two complainants in the case against Jeffrey Donaldson had ‘No reason to lie’. But Jeffrey Donaldson’s barrister has told 

 

 the jury to look at evidence ‘dispassionately’, and that “When all is said and done, it is their word against his word”. 

 

Rosemary Walsh KC, for the prosecution, told the jury in Newry Crown Court that Jeffrey Donaldson’s wife Eleanor “was aware her husband had a sexual interest in pre-pubescent girls”. 

The former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson is accused of rape and several counts of gross indecency and of indecent assault. The 63 year old has pleaded not guilty to the 18 alleged offences. 

 

Eleanor Donaldson, from Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending. 

 

Allison Morris is covering the trial for the Belfast Telegraph.

Donaldson Trial: Evidence “not sufficiently reliable” to convict, court hears

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