“Any Roman Catholic would have done”

Defendant told police who arrested him: ‘I do silly things when I’m drunk’

Eleanor Donaldson “met with a blank wall” when asking her husband Jeffrey about an incident with an alleged abuse – a jury has heard.  Eleanor Donaldson also accused her husband of infidelity during police interviews.  And Jeffrey Donaldson told police a letter sent to one of his alleged victims had nothing “to do with any allegation or any action involving sexual abuse”. His trial over alleged sexual offences is continuing in Newry Crown Court. The 63-year-old has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges, including one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency.  His wife Eleanor Donaldson faces five related charges including aiding and abetting – she is facing a trial of the facts due to her mental health issues.  Allison Morris is covering the trial.