Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the former DUP leader, tells a jury he is “crystal clear” that an allegation he raped a woman when she was a child is false. The Belfast Telegraph, Evening Standard and Sky News - UK report that Donaldson denies the claim and maintains that it is “simply not true.” The articles state that Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences. The case is heard in court, where he addresses the jury directly and rejects the rape allegation described in the proceedings.
The coverage focuses on Donaldson’s position in the trial and does not indicate any judicial findings in the provided excerpts. Across the reports, there is consistency on the core points: Donaldson disputes the rape allegation, describes himself as certain the allegation is untrue, and enters a not guilty plea covering the full set of offences referenced by the prosecution. Further details about the allegations, evidence, or witness testimony are not included in the supplied material.
