A former appeal court judge, Sir John Gillen, says the trial of DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson “struck a blow” against a culture that failed to listen to women and girls. Gillen, speaking publicly about the case, credits the victims for coming forward, describing their actions as requiring “immense courage” and stating that they have made a real impact. He also links the significance of the proceedings to changes in how the justice system handles sexual offence cases in Northern Ireland.
Across reports, Gillen characterises the trial as occurring within a broader “sea change” in the approach to sexual offences, which he says has become more responsive to victims’ experiences. BBC News and the Belfast Telegraph both emphasise Gillen’s view that reforms in the justice process have “spoken” to victims, while the Evening Standard reports his reference to a wider transformation following his earlier review of the system. The accounts present Gillen’s remarks as testimony about the evolving legal and support environment for victims rather than as a commentary on the underlying allegations themselves.
