A former leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is on trial in connection with allegations that he sexually abused two girls. Prosecutors tell the court that the offenses date back decades, describing repeated abuse and providing details of alleged conduct involving the two victims. The case is being heard by a jury, with opening statements setting out the prosecution’s account of the allegations and the timeline of the alleged crimes. The trial concerns serious sexual abuse charges and will proceed through witness testimony and evidence presented by both sides. While the sources confirm the defendant’s former role in the DUP and the nature of the allegations, they do not provide additional information in the supplied excerpts about the specific charges’ legal categories, the defendant’s response, or any outcomes at this stage. The proceedings are ongoing, and the court’s decisions will depend on the evidence and arguments heard during the trial.