Husband of alleged victim in Donaldson abuse trial breaks down as he gives evidence
PAThe husband of one of the two alleged victims in the sex abuse trial of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson broke down in tears as he described the moment his wife told him she had been abused.
The witness is married to Complainant A and cannot be named to protect her anonymity.
Sir Jeffrey denies 18 sex abuse charges. His wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson, who faces a trial of the facts on mental health grounds, denies five charges related to aiding and abetting.
The jury at Newry Crown Court heard the witness describe how his wife revealed to him that Sir Jeffrey had abused her "on a number of occasions" when she was younger.
"She did go into detail that he inappropriately touched her and that on a number of occasions that he kissed her with his tongue," the witness said.
He also described how Complainant A had told him about an encounter in which she said Sir Jeffrey looked at her private parts.
He said his wife had been "scared" when she told him about the alleged abuse.
"She told me that she never told anyone this, so I recognised this was massive for her," he said.
The witness was then cross-examined by Sir Jeffrey's barrister Kieran Vaughan KC.
Vaughan asked him why his wife had not reported the allegations earlier.
The witness replied: "She was still working through and coming to a realisation of what had happened.
"This was trauma she had for so many years, had boxed off, had tried to put on a smile and pretend that everything was OK and that was a difficult process.
"She was genuinely terrified. We were both terrified."
Evidence was also given by a Presbyterian minister and his wife who provided support to Complainant A and her husband.
The minister said they first met in December 2022, after he had been told it involved an issue they were finding difficult.
He said Complainant A and her husband talked about an unnamed "perpetrator" and that several further meetings were held.
In July 2023, while on holiday, he received a WhatsApp message from Sir Jeffrey.
Sir Jeffrey said he did not know "where else to turn" and he would "truly appreciate" a private conversation.
He said that he had asked that the approach was kept in confidence.
The next day the minister replied, stating it would be inappropriate to discuss the situation.
Sir Jeffrey sent a message back, which was read out in court.
It stated he "understood entirely" and went on: "I don't want to cause any further upset.
"I just want to find a way to let them know how sorry I am and to repent before them as I have before the Lord."
Sir Jeffrey denies acts of gross indecency and indecent assault against Complainant A when she was a child, between 1999 and 2008.
Other alleged offences, dating back to 1985, including a charge of rape, relate to a second woman, Complainant B, when she was also a child.
The trial continues.
