Northern Ireland's former unionist leader convicted of decades-old child sex abuse claims

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: PBS/AP

LONDON (AP) — Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of Northern Ireland's largest unionist party, was convicted Monday of rape and sex abuse charges involving two girls decades ago.

Donaldson, 63, was found guilty at Newry Crown Court of one count of rape, four counts of gross indecency and 13 indecent assault charges involving two girls from 1985 to 2008.

Donaldson's arrest two years ago ended his career as one of the leading Northern Ireland voices in favor of maintaining the historic ties with the United Kingdom. He resigned as leader of the conservative Democratic Unionist Party, or DUP, and gave up his seat in the U.K. Parliament.
...
Donaldson's wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was found to have aided and abetted her husband's offenses for witnessing the abuse and doing nothing to intervene. Because of mental health issues, she faced only a fact-finding hearing that could not result in a conviction.


Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/northern-irelands-former-unionist-leader-convicted-of-decades-old-child-sex-abuse-claims

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How four weeks in court unravelled 'sinful and deceitful' Jeffrey Donaldson

But over the next four weeks, as the 29-year Westminster veteran heard the case against him over 18 charges, allegedly committed against two women when they were children, he cut an increasingly lonely figure.
...
Whether through the language used by those testifying, the quoting of bible verses or the Ichthys - otherwise known as the 'Jesus fish' - pinned to Donaldson's lapel, Christianity was a regular theme over the course of the trial.

Through his life in the public spotlight, the former DUP leader had often spoken of his faith, including in an interview just months before his arrest in which he said it helped "anchor" him in the "storms" of politics.

His victims talked of their faith too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8x2e0pp1exo

[stopdiggin]

1. more faith based sexual abuse ...

(with apologies for both snark and overt generalization - - fully recognized, and with no attempt to defend)
But - it maybe also bears saying that the Irish have long been an especially sanctimonious bunch of pricks ...
If that is possible without offending 'faith' in general.

[stopdiggin]

5. I was quite aware of Donaldson being Unionist - and protestant

which did not in any way preclude him from being both sanctimonious prick (by his own testimony) nor a child predator.

The remainder of your post ... Serves more as confirmation, rather than denial .. ?
Religion has played a heavy hand on the Emerald Isle - and to absolutely nobody's benefit.
And with that - do believe I will stick with the 'sanctimonious'.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[mactire]

6. maolaigenta

So you,ve decided to double down on your malevolence .I 've been going to this site for years, first thing in the day, years before I signed on , to get news updates and info from wise people. I have learned to not click on certain posters because of their lack of relevance or political significance. I miss my favorite, and very wise contributor Nance Greggs. Maybe she gave it up because of people like you that don't contribute positively. By the amount of your posts I figure you are a narcissistic fool that just loves to read your own words! There's a name for the likes of you in Eire- amadan- and thankfully their numbers are few there. You should think twice before posting anything in the future. You are a contrarian to the spirit of DU.

[Miguelito Loveless]

2. Conservative/Evangelical

religions are all about committing the very sins they preach against.

[deurbano]

3. Is Elon going to incite mob action to torch homes of/commit violence against Jeffrey Donaldson's fellow white unionists

and loyalists?