Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of all charges – the judge said prison is “inevitable”. 

 

A jury of seven men and five women had considered its verdicts for more than nine hours over two days, and reached a verdict just after lunch on Monday.  

 

The 63-year-old former MP had pleaded not guilty to 18 offences including one count of rape. 

 

His wife Eleanor Donaldson found guilty of all charges including five of aiding and abetting – she was facing a trial of the facts and cannot be convicted or go to prison.  

 

 

Belfast Telegraph reporter Kyle Frazer joins Ciarán Dunbar.  

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.

The BelTel

GUILTY: Jeffrey Donaldson is now a convicted child rapist  

Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of 18 historical sex offences, including one count of rape, 13 of indecent assault and four of gross indecency. The offences were against two women when they were children. 

His wife Eleanor Donaldson has been found to have committed the acts relating to offences of aiding and abetting following a trial of the facts. 

The leaders of the UUP and TUV immediately called for the Donaldsons to be stripped of their titles.  

Jeffrey Donaldson has been taken to Maghaberry prison to start his sentence. 

Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris, Sam McBride, and Suzanne Breen.

“He was a fraud”: Allison Morris, Sam McBride and Suzanne Breen react as Jeffrey Donaldson found guilty of sex offences 

	
Another British Prime Minister is heading for the exit. Just days after insisting he would stay and fight, Keir Starmer has announced his resignation, bringing a sorry end to a premiership that lasted just two years. With his only serious rival out of the running, Andy Burnham now appears to have a clear path to Downing Street. Enda Brady joins Fionnan Sheahan to discuss how Burnham could approach the Irish relationship, handling Trump and defeating Nigel Farrage’s reform? 

Extra: Starmer out - 'de facto' PM Andy Burnham in

Ireland has long flirted with the far-right – and has had political movements with profoundly antisemitic views. Historian Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc has written a new book - ‘Burn Them Out – A History of Fascism and The Far-Right in Ireland’ investigating the history of fascism in Ireland. 



He joined Ciarán Dunbar.



This podcast was originally published in April 2025. 

GUILTY: Jeffrey Donaldson is now a convicted child rapist

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