{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/65670352d7b5d40012be7324/6a18803d029c20a5f6fb5858?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Donaldson Trial: Jeffrey Donaldson asked alleged victim for forgiveness for ‘hurt and pain’ caused","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/65670352d7b5d40012be7324/1779988435152-9eb5242d-81e8-4a9c-acea-a3978f0207ac.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>The trial of Jeffrey Donaldson for alleged sex crimes has heard he wrote a letter to an alleged victim asking for forgiveness.&nbsp;The court was read the letter from June 2020 to a woman he is accused of abusing. In it he asked for her forgiveness for “hurt and pain I have caused”.&nbsp;In the letter to Witness A, he referred to “sinful and selfish actions” and wrote he wanted to “take full responsibility for all I have done”.&nbsp;An interview recorded in March 2024 was shown to the court, which showed Witness A recounting two main alleged incidents.&nbsp;The witness said that inappropriate touching had become “a very casual thing”.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>63-year-old Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged historical sexual offences.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Allison Morris is covering the trial for the Belfast Telegraph.</p>","author_name":"Belfast Telegraph"}