Crime World

Jeffrey Donaldson’s trial is nearing its end. The court has now heard the closing arguments – all that remains is for the judge to give directions to the jury.   On Wednesday, Donaldson’s barrister told the jury the complainants were “not sufficiently reliable enough to drive you to a sure conclusion that he is guilty”.  

Kinahan hitman Glen Clarke who took his own life accidentally on the way to kill Cartel target Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan was the killer nicknamed 'Teeth' during the Sean McGovern hearing.The court heard that McGovern wanted an associate to give ‘Teeth’ the chance to ‘murder Duck’ after a series of botched hits had left three innocent people dead.Nicola and Niall Donald recount the shocking details of the life and death of Glen Clarke. 

Murder accused Jonathan Gill has been refused bail in the High Court and now awaits a decision around his extradition to Northern Ireland where he is wanted for the murder of Robbie Lawlor.Nicola talks to Niall Donald about Gill and his extradition challenge the Encrochat evidence that the PSNI say they have against him.

A prosecution barrister has told a jury that the two complainants in the case against Jeffrey Donaldson had ‘No reason to lie’. But Jeffrey Donaldson’s barrister has told the jury to look at evidence ‘dispassionately’, and that “When all is said and done, it is their word against his word”. Rosemary Walsh KC, for the prosecution, told the jury in Newry Crown Court that Jeffrey Donaldson’s wife Eleanor “was aware her husband had a sexual interest in pre-pubescent girls”. The former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson is accused of rape and several counts of gross indecency and of indecent assault. The 63 year old has pleaded not guilty to the 18 alleged offences. Eleanor Donaldson, from Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending. 

Two rival expat criminals who were due to end up in the same Spanish jail are being separated to prisons more than 10 hours apart for their own security. Gang boss Steven Lyons from Scotland and the man accused of his brother Eddie's murder will not be housed together after authorities moved Liverpudlian Michael Riley to the north of the country.Nicola talks with Niall Donald about the prison move.

A Gucci Gang leader who threatened a woman that he would have her son raped if they didn’t pay up an alleged debt has been jailed for 10 years. Mark Salmon rose to prominence in the notorious north Dublin mob after a number of high profile members were shot dead or imprisoned.Nicola talks with Eamon Dillon about the ordinary working dad who secretly operated as a monstrous criminal thug. 

Gardaí investigating the disappearance and murders of Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob have begun a new search in Co Wicklow.It comes several months after gardaí carried out a search of a disused quarry in Co Wicklow in relation to the two women who disappeared in the Leinster area in the 1990s. Nicola speaks to Eimear Rabbitt.

Retired garda detective Eddie Naughton spent the last 16 years of his career working on the Sandra Collins case. He remembers all the details and who was investigated. He recalls how few days after Sandra went missing, a local plasterer called Martin Earley dropped into the garda station to inquire how the search was going. Suspicions are raised about this married man and why he’s so interested in what has happened to a woman he claims to have only met in recent weeks. There is no sign of Sandra, her family cling on to hope that she has simply moved away. But in 2010 her case is finally upgraded to a murder inquiry.  

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has now been cross-examined by the prosecution in Newry Crown Court where he is on trial over 18 alleged offences. He has plead not guilty to charges including rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. Both complainants alleged they were abused as children. His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, from Dublinhill Road in Dromore, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending. She is facing a trial of the facts on mental health grounds. Allison Morris is covering the trial for the Belfast Telegraph.