Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been given a 15-year sentence for a series of historical sex offences against two women when they were children.
asserted
they → give → women
Responding to the sentence, the DUP said the former party leader deserved every day of his sentence.
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leader → respond → sentence
Handing down the sentence, the judge told Donaldson he had “doubled down on his denials” since his conviction for the offences committed between 1985 and 2008.
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he → hand → 1985
Judge Ramsey said: “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.”
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Ramsey → say → comfort
Telling the former MP to stand in the dock before passing sentence, the judge told Donaldson: “You are now 63 years of age.
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You → tell → age
It is well known that you in the course of your political career have reached the very heights of public office, and this is, on any view, a catastrophic descent into disgrace.
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this → know → disgrace
“It is only through the courage, resourcefulness, and determination of two young women that you’ve been brought to justice in respect of the crimes you committed against them when they were children.
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they → bring → them
“You persistently denied these offences and continued to do so, but you’ve been found guilty by a jury, and it’s now my duty to sentence you for these crimes.”
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it → deny → crimes
Donaldson, wearing a navy suit and a pink tie, showed no emotion when the sentence was passed.
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sentence → wear → emotion
Donaldson qualifies for an automatic 50% remission of his sentence, meaning he will spend 7.5 years in prison and 7.5 years on licence.
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he → qualify → licence
The former Lagan Valley MP has been in Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim awaiting sentencing since the end of the trial in June.
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MP → await → June
The two victims gave evidence against him during the trial.
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victims → give → trial
Complainant A gave evidence of inappropriate touching and kissing by Donaldson and an incident where he used a light to examine her genitals.
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he → give → genitals
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Complainant B told the trial she had been raped as a child of primary school age by Donaldson and later sexually assaulted by him.
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she → read → him
Complainant B wept at points during the proceedings.
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B → weep → proceedings
Donaldson had denied the offences but the jury convicted him of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency.
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jury → deny → indecency
Since his conviction, he has been stripped of his knighthood and removed from the Privy Council.
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he → strip → Council
His solicitor has previously confirmed that papers have been lodged for an appeal.
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papers → confirm → appeal
His wife Eleanor Donaldson, 60, was found to have aided and abetted his crimes after a trial of the facts, which was granted on mental health grounds.
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which → find → grounds
She cannot be given a prison sentence but could be given a treatment order or an absolute discharge.
uncertain
She → give → order
The judge is due to decide on this at a later date.
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judge → decide → date
She has also lodged an appeal against the outcome of her trial of the facts.
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She → lodge → facts
Both victims issued statements through the police following the sentencing of Jeffrey Donaldson.
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victims → issue → Donaldson
Complainant A said her childhood was “stolen” from her.
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childhood → say → her
“I will never get it back,” she said.
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she → get → it
“The effects of the Donaldsons’ actions have bled into every part of my life.
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effects → bleed → life
“Although the offences happened in the past, their impact did not end when the abuse ended.
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abuse → happen → past
“For years I carried shame, anger and guilt, and questioned whether I was worth protecting or worthy of being loved.
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I → carry → shame
I learnt to survive by shutting away my emotions, trusting no one and expecting people to hurt me.
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people → learn → me
“I became strong, resilient and fiercely independent, but those qualities came at a cost.
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qualities → become → cost
I should never have had to become this strong.”
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I → have → ?
She said the Donaldsons “do not control me now”.
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Donaldsons → say → me
“They forever changed me, but they will not take my future.
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they → change → future
The cycle is being broken and it ends with me,” she added.
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she → break → me
Complainant B has said Donaldson’s abuse affected “every relationship” she ever had.
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she → say → relationship
“At times I wonder who I would be if this hadn’t happened to me,” she said.
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she → wonder → me
“What would it be like not to be afraid at night, not to wake up shaking, not to have nightmares and not to lock away every feeling I have?
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I → wake → feeling
“What happened took away my ability to trust people and, in all honesty, I don’t think I really know what trust or love truly is.
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trust → happen → honesty
Nothing can ever change what was done to me.
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what → change → me
I wish it could.”
uncertain
it → wish → ?
…and 13 more, not listed.
The Aporia
