The BelTel

Jeffrey Donaldson’s wife planted a listening device in his car after becoming suspicious he was having affair with a constituent, a court in Newry has been told. The 63-year-old former MP in on trial in relation to 18 alleged historical sex offence charges, dating from 1985 to 2008 – including a charge of rape. He denies all of the charges against him.

His wife Eleanor Donaldson, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore in Co Down, is charged with aiding and abetting. She denies the charges. She will not be in court and is facing a trial of the facts as she has been ruled medically unfit to stand trial.

Allison Morris was in court.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe has been hearing its 17th week of evidence. This week the inquest heard a police constable say investigating the culvert in which the teenager's body was found was “not a priority” during the first few days of the search. The jury also heard an engineer say it was ‘Extremely unlikely’ Noah entered the watercourse from anywhere but culvert entrance at Premier Drive.

Liam Tunney is the Belfast Telegraph’s chief reporter on the inquest.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tommy Fleming has for decades been a star of international acclaim. The Sligo singer has played to sold out crowds, toured with Phil Coulter, and enjoyed much of his success with his wife Tina by his side.

Tommy called Tina the “most decent and loving” person he knew, while Tina said her relationship with him was “special and fulfilling”. But last year, the cracks in their life together started to show.

Details of their separation, of Tommy’s affairs and drug use, of his “living a lie”, have been aired in a leaked phone call recording and explosive interviews from both Tommy and Tina.

Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Darragh Nolan, multimedia reporter with the Irish Independent, to look at the full story of Tommy Fleming.

We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at BelfastTelegraph.co.uk/ourjournalism.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trial of Jeffrey Donaldson for alleged sex crimes has heard he wrote a letter to an alleged victim asking for forgiveness. The court was read the letter from June 2020 to a woman he is accused of abusing. In it he asked for her forgiveness for “hurt and pain I have caused”. In the letter to Witness A, he referred to “sinful and selfish actions” and wrote he wanted to “take full responsibility for all I have done”. An interview recorded in March 2024 was shown to the court, which showed Witness A recounting two main alleged incidents. The witness said that inappropriate touching had become “a very casual thing”.

63-year-old Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged historical sexual offences.

Allison Morris is covering the trial for the Belfast Telegraph.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson apologised to one of his alleged victims at a church retreat in the mid-1990s, a court heard today. Jurors were also told second complainant wrote letter to two defendants about the secret ‘she had to keep’

The prosecution delivered its opening address in the Donaldson trial on Wednesday. The former DUP leader is on trial at Newry Crown Court for alleged historical sexual offences. The 63 year-old has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

Allison Morris was in court.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.