Defence Challenges Reliability of Accusers in Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Trial
The two women accusing Sir Jeffrey Donaldson of sexually abusing them during their childhood have been characterized as "not sufficiently reliable" for the jury to convict, according to the defence barrister Kieran Vaughan KC.
Sir Jeffrey, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), faces 18 charges of sexual abuse, including one count of rape, allegedly committed between 1985 and 2008. His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, denies five related charges of aiding and abetting and is undergoing a trial of the facts, not actively participating in the proceedings due to mental health considerations.
Defence Closing Speech Highlights Issues with Complainants' Evidence
In his closing remarks, Vaughan urged the jury to "ignore the noise" and concentrate solely on the evidence presented. He stated:
"We say you will see there are fundamental and significant issues with each of these complainants they are not sufficiently reliable enough in order to drive you to a sure conclusion that he is guilty."
Vaughan began addressing the jury on Tuesday with the testimony of Complainant B, the elder of the two alleged victims. On Wednesday, he scrutinized Complainant A's evidence, describing her as a "very, very unreliable witness" whose testimony could not be "safely relied upon."
He asserted that Complainant A was "somebody who's capable of leaving things out of her evidence if she thinks it suits her own ends" and added:
"She's also capable of adding things in if it suits her own ends."
Vaughan referenced a letter Sir Jeffrey wrote to Complainant A in 2020, which she previously interpreted as an apology for the alleged abuse. The defence highlighted that the complainant did not disclose the letter's context, and Sir Jeffrey testified that the letter was unrelated to the allegations.
Additionally, Vaughan noted that during her police interview, Complainant A failed to mention alleged abuse by another man, suggesting this omission bore "the hallmarks of a witness trying to portray a certain picture." He remarked:
"An honest witness would have nothing to hide" and would "paint a fuller picture."
Disputing Specific Allegations and Credibility
Regarding an alleged incident where Sir Jeffrey purportedly used a light to look at Complainant A's private parts, Vaughan described it as a "misunderstanding." He emphasized that despite the complainant's suspicions, the evidence indicated "nothing happened." He invited the jury to consider her own words from the police interview:
"I just was very confused, I wasn't quite sure what had just happened."
He questioned:
"If she can't be sure, if she's confused, how could you possibly be sure?"
Vaughan further contested other claims, including allegations of Sir Jeffrey kissing Complainant A with his tongue and rubbing her breasts, stating these "didn't happen." He described her account of the breast-rubbing incident as lacking "any semblance of credibility."
He also addressed an initial claim that Lady Donaldson witnessed the alleged touching, noting that under cross-examination, Complainant A "stuck it in reverse." Vaughan explained:
"That exchange on that issue demonstrates that she's capable of saying a terrible untruth. To the next day saying 'I wasn't saying that' we say that isn't a witness you can safely rely upon."
Charges and Trial Status
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson denies charges of gross indecency and indecent assault against Complainant A, alleged to have occurred between 1999 and 2008 during her childhood. He also denies other offences dating back to 1985, including the rape charge involving Complainant B.
Lady Eleanor Donaldson is subject to a trial of the facts after being deemed unfit for a conventional trial on mental health grounds.
