The trial of Jeffrey Donaldson for alleged sex crimes has heard he wrote a letter to an alleged victim asking for forgiveness.  The court was read the letter from June 2020 to a woman he is accused of abusing. In it he asked for her forgiveness for “hurt and pain I have caused”. In the letter to Witness A, he referred to “sinful and selfish actions” and wrote he wanted to “take full responsibility for all I have done”.  An interview recorded in March 2024 was shown to the court, which showed Witness A recounting two main alleged incidents.  The witness said that inappropriate touching had become “a very casual thing”. 

63-year-old Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged historical sexual offences. 

Allison Morris is covering the trial for the Belfast Telegraph.

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