Donaldson will not be contesting UK general election – solicitor

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, who is facing a series of historical sex offence charges, will not contest the UK general election, his solicitor has confirmed.

The statement came after a judge fixed a date for a hearing to establish whether there is sufficient evidence to send Mr Donaldson to trial.

The July 3 date for the committal proceedings – known as a preliminary enquiry (PE) – was fixed when the case against Donaldson and his co-accused, his wife Eleanor Donaldson, was briefly mentioned at Newry Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

After the hearing, Mr Donaldson’s solicitor John McBurney confirmed that the Lagan Valley MP would not be standing for re-election, but indicated he intends to remain as an MP until the general election.

“I can indicate that it is not Jeffrey’s intention, of course, to stand for re-election,” he told reporters.

“He will be concentrating on the case and defending the charges. He is continuing as the MP at the present time.

“There’s various matters to be dealt (with), constituency matters and administrative matters to do with his offices and so forth.”

Neither accused was in court yesterday morning, having been excused from attending.

Mr Donaldson (61) was arrested and charged in relation to historical sexual allegations at the end of March.

He faces 11 charges: one of rape; one of committing an act of gross indecency; and nine of indecent assault on dates between 1985 and 2006.

The offences relate to two alleged victims.

Ms Donaldson (58) of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, faces charges of aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences.

The next review hearing in the case will take place on June 12.

Barrister Fiona O’Kane, for the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service, gave an update on the progress of the case yesterday.

“The case is progressing quite expeditiously,” she told Judge Eamonn King. “The position this morning is that we would hope to be able to have the PE (preliminary enquiry) itself on July 3.”

She said the review hearing on June 12 would provide an opportunity to check that progress towards the committal hearing was still on track.

Judge King confirmed the preliminary enquiry would take place on July 3.

Mr Donaldson resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations against him emerged in March.