Doctor's report into Eleanor Donaldson's fitness to stand trial "imminent"                      

THE psychiatrist’s report which will determine Lady Eleanor Donaldson’s fitness to stand trial is imminent a court in Newry has been told.     

The political world was shaken to its core in March of 2024 when it was revealed that the former DUP MLA and party leader Jeffrey Donaldson had been charged with a number of historic offences including indecent assault and one count of rape.   

His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson also faces charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s offences, with both husband and wife having strenuously denied the allegations since they were first levelled against them.   

Whilst an initial trial date in the case was set for March of 2025, proceedings have since been delayed with Eleanor Donaldson’s defence counsel having argued that their client is not fit to stand trail.

  During a review hearing which took place in the Newry Crown in November of last year it was detailed to the court how the report into Lady Donaldson’s fitness to stand trial hinged on the out come of two assessments which were  required for the finalisation into the report which will determine whether or not she is deemed fit to stand trial and how a consultant required the results of these assessments so that a report could  be finalised.

 Now during a most recent sitting of the Crown defence counsel in the case explained how these assessments had since taken place and a report into Lady Donaldson’s fitness to stand trail is now imminent.

Report Imminent

“The examination took place before Christmas and we await the report, we have not got the report but we are pressing for when the report will come, it is imminent.

“He is working on it at the moment. I would invite the court to mention the case next Friday in the hope that by this day next week we will have it. ” 

 Addressing defence Judge Ramsey KC expressed his disappointment at not have the report to hand considering the fact that it had been issued before Christmas but that he was willing to adjourn the matter for one further week.

 Judge Ramsey also made it clear that the doctor who compiled the report should be made aware of the urgency of the matter.

“I am a bit disappointed and I thought we would have been in a position as the report was issued before Christmas.

“Adjourn to January 30. Hopefully by then we will be in a position to progress the matter further.”    

Deny charges

After being arrested and charged for the offences which he now faces Jeffrey Donaldson resigned as  the DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations emerged.  

Weeks before his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont after a two-year boycott of the power-sharing institutions.  

Both Mr Donaldson and Mrs Donaldson have since entered pleas  of not guilty to the charges they face    

The case will be heard again before Newry Crown Court next Friday January 30 when it is hoped the outstanding psychiatrist’s report will be made available to the court and a meaningful decision can be made in the case.