A court hears that former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told police a letter he sent to one of two women who accuse him of sexually abusing her when she was a child was not an apology for the alleged offences. Prosecutors say the letter forms part of the evidence in his trial. Donaldson is currently on trial on 18 charges of sexual abuse, which include one count of rape. He denies all the charges.
The case involves two separate complainants. The testimony described in court indicates that Donaldson’s position is that the letter should not be understood as an admission or apology. The court is also hearing how Donaldson communicated with police about the allegations, with attention focused on the meaning and intent of the correspondence.
Both outlets report the same core point: Donaldson’s statement to police is that the letter he sent was not an apology for the offences alleged by the complainant. The trial continues as the court considers evidence related to the accusations.
