By: The Associated Press Posted: Last Modified:
- Read Later
LONDON (AP) — Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of Northern Ireland’s largest unionist party, was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in prison for the rape and sex abuse of two girls decades ago.
Read this article for free:
To continue reading, please subscribe:
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
LONDON (AP) — Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of Northern Ireland’s largest unionist party, was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in prison for the rape and sex abuse of two girls decades ago.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
LONDON (AP) — Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of Northern Ireland’s largest unionist party, was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in prison for the rape and sex abuse of two girls decades ago.
Donaldson, 63, was convicted in June of one count of rape, four counts of gross indecency and 13 indecent assault charges involving two girls between 1985 and 2008. He had denied the charges.
Donaldson led the Democratic Unionist Party, the biggest party in favor of keeping Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. He resigned as leader of the conservative DUP and gave up his seat in the House of Commons after his arrest two years ago.
Judge Paul Ramsey said that the ex-politician had undergone a “catastrophic descent into disgrace.” He sentenced him at Newry Crown Court to 11 years for offenses against one victim and four years for the other, to run consecutively.
“There has not been, and doubtless will not be, one word of regret, apology or shame from this man to at least provide his victims with some crumb of comfort,” the judge said.
During his trial, Donaldson denied all the allegations against him. He said that he was “crystal clear” that he didn’t rape one of the girls when she was a child decades ago.
Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, was found to have aided and abetted her husband’s offenses for witnessing the abuse and doing nothing to intervene. Because of mental health issues, she faced only a fact-finding hearing that couldn’t result in a conviction.
- Read Later
The Free Press acknowledges the financial support it receives from members of the city’s faith community, which makes our coverage of religion possible.
More Stories
Law will curb e-scooter enthusiasts
Editorial 4 minute read Preview
Law will curb e-scooter enthusiasts
Editorial 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT
For people concerned about safety on Manitoba’s sidewalks and roadways, the province’s announcement that new rules will be introduced next year regarding the use of e-scooters and other personal electric vehicles (PEVs) was no doubt met with an enthusiastic “It’s about time.”
As their popularity and their presence among pedestrians on sidewalks and/or motor vehicles on the road has increased steadily, so have reports of close calls or, even worse, collisions involving e-scooters or other PEVs — including electric skateboards, hoverboards and unicycles — being operated imprudently and at unsafe speeds.
Traffic laws urgently need to be updated to govern the use of these conveyances, which up until now have remained in a regulatory grey area that has allowed PEVs to operate largely without guidelines and outside conventional avenues of traffic-safety enforcement. Accordingly, updates regarding PEV use will be included in the Highway Traffic Act in 2027.
The new legislation will govern such areas as mandatory helmet use, age restrictions, where PEVs can lawfully operate and the maximum speed at which they can travel (25 km/h). The aim of the new law, according to the province’s website, is “to help keep Manitobans safe when sharing roads, paths, and other public spaces.”
Developer ‘anxiously’ awaits judge’s decision on Granite Curling Club construction
Joyanne Pursaga 4 minute read Preview
Developer ‘anxiously’ awaits judge’s decision on Granite Curling Club construction
Joyanne Pursaga 4 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026
The developer of a hotly debated project that would add 110 housing units to the Granite Curling Club’s parking lot has begun investigative work at the site while awaiting a judge’s decision on construction.
While some digging took place at the city-owned property last week, its developer said construction has yet to begin.
“I would call (the digging so far) investigative site work. It’s not preparing in any way for construction, other than to ensure that the reports that are required for any site have been completed,” said Jeremy Read, chief executive officer of UWCRC 2.0 Inc.
A heritage resources impact assessment will determine if the site has archeological significance. That work will check for everything from fossils to unmarked graves, said Read.
MPI leadership not fooling anyone by forcing PUB’s hand
Dan Lett 5 minute read Preview
MPI leadership not fooling anyone by forcing PUB’s hand
Dan Lett 5 minute read Yesterday at 1:33 PM CDT
It is not a question you will hear raised at Public Utilities Board hearings into Autopac rates, but you can bet it’s the one on most people’s minds.
When will the NDP government step in and repair leadership at Manitoba Public Insurance? For the third year in a row, MPI has limped into PUB hearings like a badly damaged vehicle that should have been written off years ago.
This week, the Crown corporation’s chief actuary admitted the 2.38-per-cent increase requested for the 2027-28 fiscal year was too low, in part because of the impact of last summer’s multiple hailstorms and the premiums MPI pays for re-insurance that protects the public insurer from surges in claims costs.
Chief actuary Cara Low said the rate application was not updated because of “uncertainty.” That is sort of like a firefighter complaining about not being able to do the job because there was too much smoke and flame.
To solve our puzzles, please subscribe with this special offer: |
Manitoba could soon have an autism strategy for the first time, thanks to a private member’s bill that’s garnered rare all-party support in the legislature.
Liberal MLA Cindy Lamoureux’s Bill 232, the Autism Strategy Act introduced in March, would require the government to establish a policy designed to improve the screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and support research.
It would identify ongoing supports and services needed by people with autism and their families and caregivers. It calls for annual reports tracking the implementation of the measures identified in the strategy, with a mandatory review and updates of the legislation every five years.
The bill goes before the legislature’s standing committee on social and economic development committee Friday. As of Wednesday, 87 private citizens and organizations registered to weigh in on the proposed legislation.