The case concerned offences against two girls between 1985 and 2008. In June 2026, Jeffrey Donaldson was convicted of one count of rape, four counts of gross indecency and 13 counts of indecent assault. He had denied the allegations.

Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Newry Crown Court. The judge imposed 11 years for offences against one victim and four years for offences against the other, to run consecutively.

Donaldson led the Democratic Unionist Party from 2021 until 2024. He resigned as party leader and gave up his UK parliamentary seat following his arrest.

His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was found in a fact-finding hearing to have aided and abetted the offences. She was deemed unfit to stand trial because of mental health issues, and the hearing could not result in a criminal conviction.