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During the ongoing trial involving Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, a police interview shown in court revealed that a Christian pastor was told by one of the alleged victims she could not disclose the abuse due to fears it would “destroy their political reputation.” Pastor Stephen Matthews recounted how the woman, identified in court as Complainant B, confided in him that she had been sexually abused at a very young age.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who denies 18 charges of sexual abuse, and his wife Lady Eleanor Donaldson, who denies five charges of aiding and abetting, feature prominently in the allegations. The pastor explained that although he could not clearly recall whether the complainant directly named her alleged abuser in the 1990s, it quickly became apparent to him who it was. Matthews cited the woman’s description of the abuser as someone “rising through the ranks of the Official Unionist Party,” and “the assistant to a previous MP” with a clear prospect of becoming an MP. He added, “There was only one person – it was Sir Jeffrey Donaldson as he is today.”
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is known for his previous leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and earlier service as an MP for the Ulster Unionist Party, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party. Matthews recounted that while he was visiting the Christian Family Centre in Armoy with a youth group, Complainant B—then a teenager—approached him. Describing her state, he said, “She was very, very emotionally disturbed.” During an interview with police, Matthews said he spent time with her, prayed with her, and that she eventually expressed a desire to talk about something serious but insisted that no one else be told about it.
Matthews conveyed that the complainant shared “very, very serious allegations” and appeared deeply troubled emotionally and mentally. He described her as someone who “had come through the wars,” visibly scarred by her experiences. Convinced that she needed further assistance, Matthews referred her to Davey and Linda Hoy, who operated the Christian Family Centre. Additionally, the jury heard testimony from Claire Selfridge, the Hoys’ daughter, who was living at the centre during the time Complainant B disclosed the allegations to her in their teenage years. Selfridge described feeling like “a bomb went off” upon hearing the news and characterized the complainant as “very troubled.” She reflected, “I just remember feeling my heart was very raw for her,” and understood that the abuse was the cause of her difficulties. During cross-examination, Sir Jeffrey’s barrister pointed out that the complainant never explicitly used the word “sexual” to describe the abuse, to which Selfridge agreed but noted the complainant spoke “matter of fact” about it.
The trial involving Lady Eleanor Donaldson is proceeding on mental health grounds in what is known as a trial of the facts, meaning she is not actively participating in the proceedings and cannot be found guilty
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