Jeffrey Donaldson has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of child sex offences, including one count of rape.

The former DUP leader stood with his hands clasped in front of him in the dock of Newry Crown Court as his sentence was handed down.

Judge Paul Ramsey said Donaldson’s crimes had led to a “catastrophic descent into disgrace”.

He was sentenced to 11 years for his crimes against Victim B and four years for offences against Victim A. Both the sentences will run consecutively.

The 63-year-old is seeking to appeal his convictions.

Donaldson will also be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He was convicted in June of 18 counts of sex abuse, which he committed against two women when they were children.

The former Lagan Valley MP has been in Maghaberry Prison since then and returned to it on Thursday afternoon after being sentenced.

Judge Ramsey said aggravating features include the length and protracted nature of the offending spanning many years.

He also took into account the youth of the victims and the age difference between them and Donaldson, adding that he could not accept Donaldson’s lack of other convictions as a mitigating factor.

The judge said by contesting a case, a defendant avoids the reduction in sentence they would have got if they had pleaded guilty.

“It is highly significant that the defendant denied the offences to the police, he denied them in evidence and to the probation officer he continues to maintain his denials,” the judge said.

“He has doubled-down in his denials.

“There has not been, and doubtless will not be, one word of regret, apology or shame from this man to at least provide his victims with some crumb of comfort.”

Jeffrey Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor Donaldson, had faced a trial of the facts on mental health grounds, meaning the jury was asked to find out if she did the acts or did not do the acts of which she was accused.

The jury found that she had done the acts in relation to five charges – including four counts of aiding and abetting her husband’s offending.

She has applied to appeal the verdict.

She cannot be given a prison sentence but could be given a treatment order or an absolute discharge.

The judge is due to decide on this at a later date.

Statements from both victims were released after the sentencing and read out by Det Ch Insp Leah Crothers.

Victim A said the impact of the crimes committed against her did not end when the abuse ended.

“For years I carried shame, anger and guilt, and questioned whether I was worth protecting or worthy of being loved.

“The last few years have been nothing short of a battle.

“The conviction does not erase the abuse or undo the impact of what happened to me, and I will always carry the consequences of it.

“But those responsible do not control me now. They forever changed me, but they will not take my future. The cycle is being broken and it ends with me.”

Victim B said what happened to her as a child had “affected everything since then”.

“What would it be like not to be afraid at night, not to wake up shaking, not to have nightmares and not to lock away every feeling I have?

“What happened took away my ability to trust people and, in all honesty, I don’t think I really know what trust or love truly is. Nothing can ever change what was done to me. I wish it could.

“I stood up, many years later, because for me this is about drawing a line in the sand and knowing that the Donaldsons can no longer hurt anyone else.

“Many people get to look ahead and plan their lives with hope, I’ve never known what that feels like. My hope was taken away from me a long time ago.”

Det Ch Insp Crothers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), said Donaldson’s victims have “suffered immeasurably as they come to terms with what has happened to them as children”.

“He robbed them both of their childhood and innocence.”

She added that police “worked tirelessly” to build a “robust case against this man and his wife” whose offending “has shocked our local communities”.

“The police service and our criminal justice system have sent a clear message: No-one is above the law.”

The head of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) Serious Crime Unit, Catherine Kierans, said the case “shows that sexual abuse can be hidden behind a facade of respectability”.

“It also shows that no individual, irrespective of their position, status or public reputation, is beyond the reach of the law.”

Kierans added that the “courage shown by the two victims in reporting the sexual abuse was the catalyst for a thorough PSNI investigation”.

“I want to pay tribute to the victims in this case. We recognise that it took great courage to speak out,” she said.

“Victims of sexual abuse should never feel shame for what was done to them. The shame belongs solely to those who commit these offences.”

Following the sentencing, the DUP said in a statement that Donaldson deserved “every day of the lengthy prison sentence”.

“Today justice has been done with the sentencing of Jeffrey Donaldson for his vile and disgusting crimes against his victims.

“Our first thoughts are again with the innocent victims, who having suffered such evil, were re-traumatised through giving evidence at the trial.

“They deserve our compassion, support and respect. We hope they can find some measure of comfort and can look ahead to a new chapter in their lives.

“Regardless of status or position every individual must be held accountable for their actions.”

Jeffrey Donaldson’s time in politics began in 1985 when he was elected for the UUP as an MLA in South Down.

In 1997, Donaldson became the MP for Lagan Valley, representing the UUP. He would remain an MP until 2024.

However, in 2003, he quit the UUP and defected to the DUP.

Donaldson was awarded a knighthood in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours list, and, in 2021, Donaldson became leader of the DUP.

He remained leader until March 2024, when he was charged with sexual offences of a historical nature.

He was found guilty of all 18 child sex abuse charges, including one count of rape, in June 2026.

Donaldson subsequently asked for his knighthood to be forfeited and tendered his resignation from the Privy Council with immediate effect.

In July, Donaldson was stripped of his knighthood by the King.