A senior police officer said the conviction and sentencing of the ex-MP shows that “no-one is above the law”.
asserted
one → say → law
Judge Paul Ramsey told Newry Crown Court that Donaldson, 63, had shown no “regret, apology or shame” after he was convicted of 18 offences, including one count of rape, earlier this year.
asserted
he → tell → rape
Responding to the sentence, the DUP said the former party leader deserved every day of his sentence.
asserted
leader → respond → sentence
Donaldson qualifies for an automatic 50% remission of his sentence, meaning he will spend seven-and-a-half years in prison and seven-and-a-half years on licence.
asserted
he → qualify → licence
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.
asserted
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.”
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.”
asserted
it → deny → crimes
Donaldson, wearing a navy suit and a pink tie, showed no emotion when the sentence was passed.
asserted
sentence → wear → emotion
The former Lagan Valley MP has been in Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim awaiting sentencing since the end of the trial in June.
asserted
MP → await → June
Read More
The two victims gave evidence against him during the trial.
asserted
victims → read → trial
Complainant A gave evidence of inappropriate touching and kissing by Donaldson, and an incident where he used a light to examine her genitals.
asserted
he → give → genitals
Complainant B told the trial she had been raped as a child of primary school age by Donaldson and later sexually assaulted by him.
asserted
she → tell → him
Complainant B wept at points during the proceedings.
asserted
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.
asserted
jury → deny → indecency
Since his conviction, he has been stripped of his knighthood and removed from the Privy Council.
asserted
he → strip → Council
His solicitor has previously confirmed that papers have been lodged for an appeal.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
judge → decide → date
She has also lodged an appeal against the outcome of her trial of the facts.
asserted
She → lodge → facts
Both victims issued statements through the police following the sentencing of Jeffrey Donaldson.
asserted
victims → issue → Donaldson
Complainant A said her childhood was “stolen” from her.
asserted
childhood → say → her
“I will never get it back,” she said.
asserted
she → get → it
“The effects of the Donaldsons’ actions have bled into every part of my life.
asserted
effects → bleed → life
“Although the offences happened in the past, their impact did not end when the abuse ended.
“
asserted
abuse → happen → past
For years I carried shame, anger and guilt, and questioned whether I was worth protecting or worthy of being loved.
asserted
I → carry → shame
I learnt to survive by shutting away my emotions, trusting no one and expecting people to hurt me.
asserted
people → learn → me
“I became strong, resilient and fiercely independent, but those qualities came at a cost.
asserted
qualities → become → cost
I should never have had to become this strong.”
asserted
I → have → ?
She said the Donaldsons “do not control me now”.
asserted
Donaldsons → say → me
“They forever changed me, but they will not take my future.
asserted
they → change → future
The cycle is being broken and it ends with me,” she added.
asserted
she → break → me
Complainant B has said Donaldson’s abuse affected “every relationship” she ever had.
“At times I wonder who I would be if this hadn’t happened to me,” she said.
asserted
she → say → 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?
asserted
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.
asserted
trust → happen → honesty
Nothing can ever change what was done to me.
asserted
what → change → me
I wish it could.”
uncertain
it → wish → ?
…and 13 more, not listed.
The Aporia
