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BBC Newsline live outside court published at 13:25 BST BBC News NI's Newsline programme will be on air from 13:30 BST. Our reporter Lyndsey Telford will be live from outside Newry Crown Court. The programme will be streamed live at the top of this page. 'Massive' challenge to protect Donaldson from harm in jail published at 13:20 BST As Donaldson is returned to Maghaberry Prison to serve his sentence, former prison governor Ian Acheson tells BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme that protecting the convicted paedophile from harm will be a "massive risk-management headache" for the Northern Ireland Prison Service.
"There are always hierarchies within prisons - and there are even hierarchies within sex offenders - and the lowest of the low and the most vulnerable in terms of hostility from others are those who've been convicted of sexual violence against a minor," says Acheson. But it's also necessary, he adds, to "examine potential political or sectarian targeting" relating to Donaldson's leadership of the DUP and his service in Ulster Defence Regiment. "All of that needs to be considered together in terms of deciding where he's going to be located [inside the prison] and for how long." Prison van leaves court published at 13:12 BST Donaldson has left Newry Crown Court and is being transported back to Maghaberry Prison in a white prison van.
Court sketch of Donaldson released published at 13:03 BST Image source, Elizabeth Cook Court artist Elizabeth Cook was inside the courtroom this morning and drew this sketch of the disgraced former politician as he listened to the judge deliver his sentence. A recap from outside Newry courthouse published at 12:45 BST BBC News NI's Declan Harvey provides a recap of what happened in Newry Crown Court today as Jeffrey Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex abuse. Media caption, Ex-DUP leader sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex abuse offences How did Donaldson react when he was sentenced? published at 12:38 BST Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme after the hearing, our crime and justice correspondent Julian O'Neill described the scene as he watched Donaldson's reaction in the dock.
"There did not appear to be a flicker of emotion whenever I glanced up at Jeffrey Donaldson," he said. "He was dressed in a blue suit, a white shirt and a pink tie, wearing his glasses, cleanly shaven - he hasn't changed one bit from how he looked at the trial. "He sat during most of the judge's opening remarks.
His head was slightly tilted to his right as he listened intently and then the judge instructed him to stand between two prison officers as he handed down those tariffs. "And just as he did whenever he was found guilty by the jury four months ago, he showed next to no emotion as the tariff was handed out." 'No office places anyone above the law' - Burrows published at 12:29 BST Image source, Pacemaker Image caption, Jon Burrows said Donaldson's sentence reflects the "gravity of his crimes and the lifelong harm he inflicted on his victims" The Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows has issued a statement on behalf of his party following today's sentencing. Jeffrey Donaldson was a member of the UUP and represented the party as an MLA and MP.
A period of his offending occurred while he was in the party. Burrows said today's outcome is the "clearest possible statement that no office, no status and no reputation places anyone above the law, and that the courage of victims who come forward will be met with the full weight of justice". He added that "no sentence" could give back what was taken from the victims, paying tribute to their courage.
Mr Burrows said their example had encouraged other survivors of historical abuse to seek help and report what happened to them. He added that the UUP's independent safeguarding review into Donaldson’s years within the party continues and the party "will act on whatever it finds”. Judge delivered 'key, killer line' as he jailed Donaldson published at 12:21 BST BBC News NI's crime and justice correspondent Julian O'Neill was among the reporters in Newry Crown Court as the former DUP leader was jailed.
He told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme: "Sentencing began not long after 11:00 o'clock and probably took in and around half an hour, 40 minutes. "Donaldson obviously had been brought to Newry Crown Court by prison van from Maghaberry Prison and the judge asked him to stand in the dock as he handed down his sentence. "A key, killer line I think from the judge - the stand out line this morning - was that he said Donaldson's offences had led him to a catastrophic descent into disgrace." You can listen to BBC Talkback live now on BBC Sounds. 'It took great courage for the victims in this case to speak out' - PPS published at 12:15 BST Catherine Kierans from the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said the "outcome reflects the strength of the partnership between the PSNI and the PPS, and our shared commitment to tackling sexual crimes and securing justice for victims".
"We recognise that it took great courage for the victims in this case to speak out," Kierans 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.
We know that the criminal justice outcome will not heal all the hurt the victims have experienced," she said. "However, we hope it will be of some comfort to them as they look to the future." Kierans said the PPS recognises it can be daunting for victims of sexual offences to come forward. However, she added: "My message is that help is available.
The first step may be speaking to someone you trust. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, no matter how much time has passed, or who the offender is, dedicated police officers and prosecutors will treat you with respect and dignity. "Where there is sufficient evidence to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction, we will not hesitate to prosecute and hold offenders to account." 'No individual is beyond the reach of the law' - PPS published at 12:09 BST Speaking outside court, head of the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland's serious crime unit Catherine Kierans said that Donaldson "exploited his young victims, causing profound and lasting harm that they continue to live with to this day".
"Despite the devastation he has caused he has never accepted responsibility for his offending nor shown any remorse," Kierans said. She added that this case "shows sexual abuse can be hidden behind a façade of respectability". "It also shows that no individual, irrespective of their position, status or public reputation is beyond the reach of the law," she said.
She added: "The courage shown by the two victims in reporting the sexual abuse was the catalyst for a thorough PSNI investigation." Victims' anonymity was 'jeopardised' published at 12:03 BST Det Ch Insp Leah Crothers has told reporters that the "brave" women who reported their abuse by Donaldson had been "subjected to speculation online and in the media". She said their legal right to anonymity has been jeopardised by this and yet "they remained steadfast and supportive of the criminal justice process". 'No-one is above the law' published at 12:00 BST Police "worked tirelessly" to build a "robust case against this man and his wife" whose offending "has shocked our local communities", says Det Ch Insp Leah Crothers. "The police service and our criminal justice system has sent a clear message: No-one is above the law." Victims 'robbed of their childhood' published at 11:57 BST Det Ch Insp Leah Crothers says both of 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." Donaldson 'exploited trust' of his young victims published at 11:56 BST Speaking outside Newry Crown Court after the sentencing hearing, Det Ch Insp Leah Crothers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) told reporters that Jeffrey Donaldson "manipulated" both of his young victims and "exploited the trust" they had placed in him. Reaction to come outside the court published at 11:49 BST We're expecting reaction from police and prosecutors outside Newry courthouse soon. You can watch along by pressing the watch live button at the top of this page. 'Justice has been done' - DUP published at 11:45 BST Image source, MARK MARLOW/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Image caption, Jeffrey Donaldson pictured after meeting the prime minister in Belfast in February 2023 In a statement following its former leader's sentencing, the DUP said "justice has been done" for Donaldson's "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," the statement said.
"Regardless of status or position every individual must be held accountable for their actions. "He deserves every day of the lengthy prison sentence he has to serve following the guilty verdict for preying on innocent child victims." 'I do not expect Donaldson will show any shame' published at 11:40 BST Luke Sproule BBC News NI Prior to sentencing, the judge said aggravating features in this case 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.
He said he cannot accept that Donaldson's lack of other convictions are 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. "In this case 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," he added. “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." 'Descent into disgrace' published at 11:35 BST Luke Sproule BBC News NI As he sentenced Donaldson, Judge Ramsey asked him to stand and told him his offences had led to a "catastrophic descent into disgrace". He sentenced Donaldson to 11 years in prison for the offences committed against Victim B and four years for the offences committed against Victim A, which will run consecutively for a total of 15 years in jail.
Donaldson stood with his hands clasped and showed no emotion as he was sentenced. He was then taken back into custody to begin his jail term. Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years published at 11:28 BST Breaking Luke Sproule BBC News NI Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex abuse, including rape. 'I pray God will let me die' published at 11:24 BST Luke Sproule BBC News NI Now the judge moves on to Victim B's impact statement.
She says the abuse has affected every relationship she ever had. "Every day I pray God will let me die," she says. She says Donaldson could have avoided going to court but he implied that not only did none of the abuse happen, but accused her of making it up.
"I wonder what it is like not to be afraid at night," she says, adding that she wakes up shaking after nightmares.
Source: BBC
