Jeffrey Donaldson takes the stand in sex abuse trial

Former DUP person Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has taken the witnesser basal astatine his proceedings connected enactment maltreatment charges.

He was called to springiness grounds by his defence barrister Kieran Vaughan KC.

Vaughan asked him if helium accepted immoderate of the maltreatment claims made by 2 women and Sir Jeffrey replied: "No".

Sir Jeffrey, 63, denies 18 enactment maltreatment charges, allegedly committed betwixt 1985 and 2008.

The proceedings is successful its 3rd week.

There are 2 alleged victims successful the trial, some of whom reported their allegations to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) successful March 2024.

The proceedings antecedently heard that successful 2020, Sir Jeffrey wrote to 1 of the victims, Complainant A, expressing "regret" for the "hurt, symptom and distress" helium had caused her.

In her evidence, the pistillate said she thought the missive was an effort to "apologise" for the alleged abuse.

Vaughan asked Sir Jeffrey to work extracts to the assemblage astatine Newry Crown Court.

The lawyer past asked him if it was a notation to the alleged abuse.

Sir Jeffrey replied: "Absolutely not.

"I would ne'er person done thing of that nature. This was not the crushed wherefore this missive was written."

Later, Vaughan asked astir the rape allegation made by Complainant B.

Sir Jeffrey replied: "It conscionable didn't happen. I americium perfectly crystal wide astir that.

"It is conscionable simply not true."

Sir Jeffrey denies acts of gross indecency and indecent battle against Complainant A erstwhile she was a child, betwixt 1999 and 2008.

Other alleged offences, dating backmost to 1985, including a complaint of rape, subordinate to a 2nd woman, Complainant B, erstwhile she was besides a child, which helium besides denies.

His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson denies 5 charges of aiding and abetting his alleged offending.

Lady Donaldson faces a proceedings of the facts aft she was antecedently deemed unfit to look a accepted proceedings connected intelligence wellness grounds, and is truthful not participating successful proceedings.