Local authority workers demand pay rises to reflect ‘true cost of living’ as talks on new wage deal continue

The Indo Daily

Extra: Jeffrey Donaldson given 15 years - but will be out in seven

Jeffrey Donaldson received a 15 year sentence in prison for his crimes. He was given 11 years for rape against Victim B and four years for all offences against Victim A, to be served consecutively.The former MP and ex-DUP leader was sentenced in Newry Courthouse on Thursday morning.However, later on Thursday after the Lady Chief Justice confirmed Donaldson will actually walk free in seven-and-a-half years.That is because the crimes were committed before the law changed in 2008, so he will automatically be entitled to 50pc remission of his sentence.He was found guilty of 18 child sex abuse charges, including rape, in June.Donaldson is trying to win an appeal, and his denials were an aggravating factor in the sentencing.However, as it stands, the 63-year-old will emerge from prison as a 78-year-old pensioner.Ciarán Dunbar spoke to Allison Morris outside Newry Crown Court.This podcast was edited at 17.05pm on Thursday October 15th, to reflect the new information regarding the length of time Donaldson will spend in jail.Jeffrey Donaldson has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for historical child sex crimes. The ex-DUP leader was sentenced to 11 years for rape against Complainant B and four years for all offences against Complainant A, to be served consecutively. He will also be on the sex offenders register indefinitely. This extra episode of The Indo Daily is brought to you by our sister podcast The BelTel, as Ciaran Dunbar speaks with Allison Morris outside Newry Crown Court.The Indo Daily is part of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism­

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Israel's 2026 election explained: The post-October 7 vote that could reshape the Middle East

Israel‘s election next week may change its leader, but not its strategy: Iran will remain its chief adversary, military force will continue to be its preferred tool and Palestinian statehood a distant prospect, regional policymakers and analysts say.That is because the strategic assumptions underpinning Israeli policy were hardened by the October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israeli communities by Palestinian militant group Hamas and by the wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.If anything, Israel could toughen its security policy, the analysts said, as victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the backing of far-right coalition partners could embolden him to step up the war with Iran, tighten Israel‘s grip on the occupied West Bank and push diplomacy further to the margins.Israel‘s security doctrine now rests on three pillars: breaking Iran, holding buffer zones beyond its borders and using force to deter enemies.

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