Tomás Ó Flatharta

Looking at Things from the Left

Posts Tagged ‘true-crime

After a delay of more than two years, Criminal Trial of ex DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson Begins

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Irish News reporter Hannah Patterson sets the scene :

This is an unusual trial.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson appeared n Newry Crown Court on May 26 2026.

charged with rape, four counts of gross indecency and 13 counts of indecent assault.

All the alleged offences took place between 1985 and 2008 and there are two alleged victims. 

Mr Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to all charges. 

Lady Eleanor Donaldson cannot be sent to prison because she has been ruled “too ill to stand trial”

Prosecutors allege :

Eleanor Donaldson, abided and abetted (Sir Jeffrey Donaldson) in the crimes he is accused of. 

While she, too, maintains her innocence, Judge Paul Ramsey has ruled that Ms Donaldson is too ill to stand trial. 

Instead, the 60-year-old will face a trial of facts. 

A jury was selected and the trial starts on Tuesday May 27.

Many warnings have been issued by the six-county state authorities about commentary that might “impede” the course of justice.

When the evidence presented to the jury is disclosed in open court, it will be followed with great interest.


Irish Times headlines :

‘Traumatic incidents’ to be recalled during Jeffrey Donaldson abuse trial, court hears

Former DUP leader denies 18 charges, including one of rape, as trial opens in Newry

Link :
Traumatic Incidents to be Recalled During Jeffrey Donaldson Abuse Trial, Court Hears (Irish Times Report)

Jurors in the trial of the former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson will hear about “difficult and traumatic incidents” the two alleged victims in the case allege occurred to them as children, Newry Crown Court has heard.

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“Surveillance operation on LVF suspect Mark ‘Swinger’ Fulton lifted the day before Seán Brown murder” – Irish News report lifts lid on a 1997 sectarian murder, facilitated by the British State – “Inquest abandoned due to material being withheld on the grounds of national security as coroner asks for public inquiry”

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Twenty seven years ago, and the British State is determined to prevent a true story being told.

Here is the Irish News report, published on March 5 2024.


A security surveillance operation on a leading loyalist and suspect in the murder of GAA official Sean Brown was lifted the night before the killing, a coroner has been told.

Details emerged as presiding coroner Mr Justice Kinney abandoned the long-running inquest in Belfast and confirmed he would write to Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to ask for a public inquiry.

He said Mr Brown’s inquest could not continue due to material being withheld by state agencies on the grounds of national security.

The PSNI and MI5 have made applications for multiple redactions to sensitive documents connected to the murder under Public Interest Immunity (PII).

Loyalist Volunteer Force Killers Mark Fulton and Billy Wright

PII certificates are used by state agencies to withhold sensitive or top level security information they do not want in the public domain.

Last week the coroner heard that more than 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents.

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