The BelTel

Jeffrey Donaldson has begun his new life in Maghaberry Prison. Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor, are set to be stripped of their honours. The former MP and DUP leader, Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of 18 child sex offences on Monday - including one count of rape.   The 63-year-old had pleaded not guilty, but the jury of seven men and five considered its verdicts for ten hours over three days, believing his victims. His wife Eleanor Donaldson was found to have committed the acts relating to offences of aiding and abetting following a trial of the facts.   Allison Morris joined Ciarán Dunbar to talk about what we couldn’t report while the trial was ongoing. 

Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of 18 historical sex offences, including one count of rape, 13 of indecent assault and four of gross indecency. The offences were against two women when they were children. His wife Eleanor Donaldson has been found to have committed the acts relating to offences of aiding and abetting following a trial of the facts. The leaders of the UUP and TUV immediately called for the Donaldsons to be stripped of their titles.  Jeffrey Donaldson has been taken to Maghaberry prison to start his sentence. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris, Sam McBride, and Suzanne Breen. 

Another British Prime Minister is heading for the exit. Just days after insisting he would stay and fight, Keir Starmer has announced his resignation, bringing a sorry end to a premiership that lasted just two years. With his only serious rival out of the running, Andy Burnham now appears to have a clear path to Downing Street. Enda Brady joins Fionnan Sheahan to discuss how Burnham could approach the Irish relationship, handling Trump and defeating Nigel Farrage’s reform? 

Katie Simpson was a talented showjumper whose short adult life centred around the equine industry she'd grown up in. So, when first responders collected her, unconscious and not breathing, from the care of Jonathan Creswell, who would eventually be charged with her murder, police initially believed his claim that he'd found her hanging at home.Creswell died by suicide in the early days of his trial. Since then, Ms Simpson’s story has been covered at length in documentaries, podcasts, a Police Ombudsman’s report, an independent case review, and a book by Nicola Tallant. Although a tragic death among the showjumping set is far from her regular Crime World beat, Tallant believes Simpson’s is a dark story with more yet to be told.This episode contains material that may be distressing. Please take care while listening.Host: Fionnán Sheehan | Guest: Nicola Tallant (author of Groomed: Coercion, Control and a Cold-blooded Murder, and investigations editor at the Sunday World)

Noah Donohoe’s remains were found in a storm drain in north Belfast on June 27, 2020.  The 14-year-old had gone missing six days earlier.   A post-mortem examination found that the likely cause of death was drowning.  The inquest into his death, which is being heard before a jury, is in its 20th week.  The jury has now heard from Detective Chief Inspector Tom Phillips. He was the senior investigating officer tasked with finding Noah and is the inquest’s final witness.  He told the court that Police may ‘never have answers’ to some questions around Noah’s death.  Liam Tunney is covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph. 

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”. 63-year-old Jeffrey Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences which include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. His wife Eleanor Donaldson’s barrister asked the jury to end her nightmare by returning verdicts that she did not do the acts alleged.  The sixty-year-old from Dublinhill Road in Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending.  She is facing a trial of the facts to test the evidence in the case but cannot result in a criminal conviction.   Allison Morris was in court.   

Belfast Telegraph’s Sam McBride went to East Belfast to ask people blocking a road – albeit peacefully – why they were protesting. That led to him being assaulted, challenged to a fight, intimidated and sworn at. The fallout from last week’s riots continues with 35 arrests, and 23 people charged. Police have described the events as “inexcusable lawlessness”. Sam McBride joined Ciarán Dunbar. 

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.  Allison Morris is covering the trial for the Belfast Telegraph