Pastor Recounts Abuse Disclosure in Police Interview
During the Sir Jeffrey Donaldson sex abuse trial, a police interview with Christian pastor Stephen Matthews was presented. Matthews recounted how one of the two alleged victims, referred to as Complainant B, confided in him that she could not disclose the abuse to anyone as it would "destroy their political reputation."
Pastor Matthews described that Complainant B revealed she had been sexually abused at a very young age.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson denies 18 charges of sexual abuse. His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, denies five charges related to aiding and abetting.
Pastor Matthews Identifies Alleged Abuser
Matthews stated he could not clearly recall whether Complainant B named her alleged abuser during their conversation in the 1990s, but it became "obvious" to him who it was.
"She had said he was rising through the ranks of the Official Unionist Party,"
he said.
"He had been the assistant to a previous MP and as such would be in line to become an MP."
He added:
"There was only one person – it was Sir Jeffrey Donaldson as he is today."
Sir Jeffrey, a former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), was previously an MP for the Ulster Unionist Party, also known as the Official Unionist Party.
Details of the Disclosure at Christian Family Centre
Matthews told police he was visiting the Christian Family Centre in Armoy with a youth group when Complainant B, then in her teens, approached him.
"She was very, very emotionally disturbed,"
he said in his achieving best evidence (ABE) interview with police.
"I spent time with her, I prayed with her, then she said she wanted to talk about something."
Matthews said before she proceeded, Complainant B told him she did not want anyone to know about the matter.
He listened as she recounted
"very, very serious allegations"and described her as
"very, very emotional in what she was saying."
Matthews added:
"She had a very, very troubled life at that time. Very emotionally disturbed."
"She looked like somebody who had come through the wars, emotionally and mentally."
At the time, Matthews believed Complainant B should speak to someone who could offer more support and referred her to Davey and Linda Hoy, who managed the Christian Family Centre.
Testimony from Claire Selfridge
The jury also heard from Claire Selfridge, the daughter of the Hoys. She was living at the centre in Armoy when Complainant B disclosed the allegations to her during their teenage years.
Selfridge described her reaction:
"It was almost like a bomb went off. That's what it felt like for me,"
She characterized the complainant as
"very troubled"and said:
"I just remember feeling my heart was very raw for her,"
and
"Then I realised when she told me that she had been abused, that this was clearly why she was how she was."
Cross-Examination on Abuse Description
During cross-examination, Sir Jeffrey's barrister Kieran Vaughan questioned Selfridge on whether the complainant had used the word "sexual" to describe the abuse.
Selfridge responded:
"Correct."
She further stated that the complainant had been
"matter of fact"when describing the alleged abuse.
Lady Donaldson's Trial Status
Lady Donaldson is facing a trial of the facts on mental health grounds. She is not participating in the proceedings and cannot be convicted.
