Eleanor Donaldson’s bid to have two expenses dropped ‘mustn’t delay trial’

A request to dismiss two expenses towards Jeffrey Donaldson’s spouse within the historic intercourse offenses case involving them each mustn’t delay their trial, a choose stated.

At a short evaluate listening to at Newry Crown Court docket, Decide Paul Ramsey stated he anticipated the trial to happen on the finish of March.

Former DUP chief Donaldson (62) has pleaded not responsible to 18 offences.

The historic expenses embrace one depend of rape in addition to allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency.

His spouse Eleanor Donaldson (58), of Dublinhill Highway, Dromore, faces conspiracy expenses in relation to the alleged offenses towards her husband.

She pleaded not responsible to a few expenses earlier than the March trial, however her protection staff requested that two different expenses towards her be withdrawn.

The choose was initially scheduled to listen to arguments within the no-bill request to dismiss each expenses on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, he stated that was not potential and as a substitute scheduled a listening to for January.

Decide Ramsey instructed the court docket: “This can be a no-bill utility in relation to 2 of the counts within the indictment.

“We is not going to proceed with this right now, for technical causes we can not proceed so we’ll set a date for the listening to on this matter.”

The choose stated he would hear closing arguments on January 23, having already acquired written arguments from the protection and prosecution on the request.

He stated: “Our trial takes place on the finish of March. I assume it will not have an effect on the trial, we are able to settle this matter.

Northern Eire Crown Counsel Rosemary Walsh KC stated there can be a variety of pending purposes following the no-bill listening to.

Decide Ramsey stated: “This could not have an effect on the trial date. »

He additionally stated he was unlikely to rule on the no-bill request on Jan. 23, however would achieve this “very shortly thereafter.”

Neither defendant was in court docket Tuesday.

The trial date has been set for March 24 subsequent 12 months.

Jeffrey Donaldson is charged with one depend of rape, 4 counts of gross indecency and 13 counts of indecent assault.

The fees cowl a interval between 1985 and 2008.

There are two alleged victims.

The long-serving Lagan Valley MP was arrested and charged in late March in reference to historic sexual allegations.

Ireland

Jeffrey Donaldson will be tried for child sexual assault…

He resigned as chief of the DUP and was suspended from the social gathering after the allegations towards him emerged.

A number of weeks earlier than his arrest, he had introduced the DUP again to Stormont after two years of boycotting power-sharing establishments.

Former deputy chief Gavin Robinson has been named his successor as chief of the DUP.