What happens now for former DUP leader
Posted by Jim on June 23, 2026
THE IRISH NEWS:
Northern Ireland
Jeffrey Donaldson: What happens now for former DUP leader convicted of child sex offences and wife Eleanor.
Following the guilty verdict being delivered by the jury at Newry Crown Court on Monday, Donaldson was immediately remanded into custody.
Eleanor and Jeffrey Donaldson.
By Staff Reporter
June 22, 2026 at 6:33pm BST
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson was taken straight to HMP Maghaberry on Monday following his conviction for historical sex offences against two child victims.
His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was found to have aided and abetted his crimes, however she will not be held criminally responsible or face prison as she was ruled not medically fit to face trial.
The case has taken more than two years to reach a verdict after the husband and wife’s arrests for the offences in 2024.
What happens now for one of the most recognisable faces in Northern Ireland politics, and his wife?
When will Jeffrey Donaldson be sentenced?
Following the guilty verdict being delivered by the jury at Newry Crown Court on Monday, Donaldson was immediately remanded into custody.
He was taken from the court to a police van where he was transported to Maghaberry to begin his stint in prison.
Judge Paul Ramsey said the former politician can expect to receive a “lengthy” custodial sentence for his crimes.
However, that sentence is unlikely to be delivered for several months.
There will be a review hearing on September 11 before a pre-sentencing hearing on September 25 at the same court.
During sentencing, Judge Ramsey will consider aggravating and mitigating factors which may contribute to the length of the sentence Donaldson will receive.
The judge also said Donaldson would be placed on the sex offender register.
He is likely to be placed on a dedicated wing of the prison for sex offenders, which sits within the Lagan Valley constituency he used to represent as an MP.
What happens now for Eleanor Donaldson?
Eleanor Donaldson, 60, has been found to have aided and abetted her husband in sex abuse, but was ruled unfit to stand trial.
Rather than face the conventional criminal process, she has been subject to what is known as a ‘trial of the facts’.
This is a separate procedure in which the jury assesses the evidence to determine whether she carried out the acts alleged, but cannot return a guilty verdict and cannot impose any criminal conviction.
Having been found by the jury to have committed the acts, the case passes to the judge, who must choose from a limited number of options as set out in law.
These include a hospital order, under which she could be detained indefinitely subject to review by the Mental Health Review Tribunal; a guardianship order, placing her in the care of a nominated individual; or a supervision and treatment order requiring her to undertake specified medical treatment.
If none of those disposals is deemed appropriate — for instance, if medical professionals do not recommend detention or supervision — the only remaining option is an absolute discharge, where she would essentially walk free.
Will they lose their titles?
In mere minutes following the guilty verdict being delivered on Monday, calls were made by some politicians in Northern Ireland for the Donaldsons to lose their titles of ‘Sir’ and ‘Lady’.
Donaldson holds the title ‘Sir’ after being awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s birthday honours in 2016, while his wife Eleanor holds the title of ‘Lady’ as a result.
Whitehall sources told The Irish News that anyone convicted of a sexual offence would be considered for forfeiture of their honour, as would a person found to have committed such an act following a ‘trial of the facts’.
The decision will rest with the Honours Forfeiture Committee, a Cabinet Office body that advises the King on whether honours should be withdrawn.