Donaldson denies meeting sex abuse accuser to 'nip in the bud' allegations

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Donaldson denies meeting sex abuse accuser to 'nip in the bud' allegations57 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleJulian O'Neill ,crime and justice correspondentandLuke Sproule , News NI, at Newry Crown CourtPA MediaSir Jeffrey Donaldson has denied attending a meeting with one of his two sex abuse accusers in order to "nip in the bud" allegations made against him. The former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader, 63, has been giving evidence for a second day at his trial at Newry Crown Court. He denies a total of 18 offences, including rape, allegedly committed between 1985 and 2008.

The trial started three weeks ago. There are two alleged victims, referred to as Complainants A and B, who both claim they were abused by him when they were children. Prosecution lawyer Rosemary Walsh KC asked Sir Jeffrey about a meeting he had with Complainant B at the Christian Family Centre in Armoy in the late 1990s.

The Details

It had been arranged by one of the centre's founders, Davey Hoy, after she told a pastor about the alleged abuse. Walsh suggested to Sir Jeffrey that he had gone because it was "something you needed to nip in the bud". He replied: "That's not true.

"He didn't say 'you need to get up to Armoy as there are serious issues to deal with'. I was not worried about going. "He repeatedly denied knowing the meeting was about her allegations.

In evidence, Complainant B stated he had apologised to her – but Sir Jeffrey has claimed he was saying sorry if he had ever made her feel "uncomfortable" about him. He said no allegations were raised at the meeting. "If the suggestion is that what I was apologising for is that someone had said there were allegations, that is not the case," he told the court.

What Experts Say

"She had become a Christian and wanted to move forward... "He said they had embraced at the end of what had been a short meeting, also attended by Hoy and his wife Linda. The court previously heard evidence from the Hoys.

Linda Hoy said Complainant B cried at the meeting when she said she forgave Sir Jeffrey. Walsh asked Sir Jeffrey why, if the meeting was a "positive experience" as he had previously told the court, Complainant B had cried. "I remember talking with her, I don't remember the tears, I remember we embraced at the end of the meeting… maybe when I left there were tears, I don't know," he said.

Walsh then suggested that Sir Jeffrey "took control" of the meeting. "You went in there and immediately said that you knew what all this was about and that you were truly sorry," Walsh said. Sir Jeffrey denied this.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.