The BelTel

Jeffrey Donaldson was an “unmitigated liar” and was living a double life while working in Westminster – according to former DUP MLA Jim Wells. In the days following Jeffrey Donaldson’s guilty verdict for child sex offences, more information has arisen about the disgraced MPs personal life – including affairs, the use of gay saunas, and drinking to excess. 

Former MLA and DUP member Jim Wells joined Olivia Peden. 

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Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots has performed a massive U-turn on a strange decision which has caused unusual controversy around Stormont. Last month, Mr Poots blocked MLAs from discussing a proposal which survivors of abuse wanted to become law.

The episode was extraordinary - because a large majority of MLAs not only wanted to discuss the proposal, but to vote for it to become law.

Mr Poots has now changed his mind but has refused to give any explanation for why he did what he did.

Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sam McBride. 

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Throughout the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson, his work for what he called “the local MP” was referenced in court. That MP was Enoch Powell – one of the most controversial British politicians of the 20th century. Donaldson served as Powell’s election agent in the mid-80s. Powell, who passed away in 1998, had been accused of being a paedophile, with allegations arising from around the time Jeffrey Donaldson had been working for him.

Former DUP leader Donaldson was found guilty of historical sex offences, including rape, at the start of this week. 

Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast telegraph reporter Andrew Madden

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Jeffrey Donaldson has begun his new life in Maghaberry Prison. Donaldson and his wife, Eleanor, are set to be stripped of their honours. The former MP and DUP leader, Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of 18 child sex offences on Monday - including one count of rape.  

The 63-year-old had pleaded not guilty, but the jury of seven men and five considered its verdicts for ten hours over three days, believing his victims. 

His wife Eleanor Donaldson was found to have committed the acts relating to offences of aiding and abetting following a trial of the facts.  

 Allison Morris joined Ciarán Dunbar to talk about what we couldn’t report while the trial was ongoing. 

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Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of 18 historical sex offences, including one count of rape, 13 of indecent assault and four of gross indecency. The offences were against two women when they were children. His wife Eleanor Donaldson has been found to have committed the acts relating to offences of aiding and abetting following a trial of the facts. 

The leaders of the UUP and TUV immediately called for the Donaldsons to be stripped of their titles.  

Jeffrey Donaldson has been taken to Maghaberry prison to start his sentence. 

Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Allison Morris, Sam McBride, and Suzanne Breen. 

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Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of all charges – the judge said prison is “inevitable”. 

A jury of seven men and five women had considered its verdicts for more than nine hours over two days, and reached a verdict just after lunch on Monday.  

The 63-year-old former MP had pleaded not guilty to 18 offences including one count of rape. 

His wife Eleanor Donaldson found guilty of all charges including five of aiding and abetting – she was facing a trial of the facts and cannot be convicted or go to prison.  

Belfast Telegraph reporter Kyle Frazer joins Ciarán Dunbar.  

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Katie Simpson was a talented showjumper whose short adult life centred around the equine industry she'd grown up in. So, when first responders collected her, unconscious and not breathing, from the care of Jonathan Creswell, who would eventually be charged with her murder, police initially believed his claim that he'd found her hanging at home.

Creswell died by suicide in the early days of his trial. Since then, Ms Simpson’s story has been covered at length in documentaries, podcasts, a Police Ombudsman’s report, an independent case review, and a book by Nicola Tallant. 

Although a tragic death among the showjumping set is far from her regular Crime World beat, Tallant believes Simpson’s is a dark story with more yet to be told.

This episode contains material that may be distressing. Please take care while listening.

Host: Fionnán Sheehan | Guest: Nicola Tallant (author of Groomed: Coercion, Control and a Cold-blooded Murder, and investigations editor at the Sunday World)

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Noah Donohoe’s remains were found in a storm drain in north Belfast on June 27, 2020. 

The 14-year-old had gone missing six days earlier.  

A post-mortem examination found that the likely cause of death was drowning. 

The inquest into his death, which is being heard before a jury, is in its 20th week. 

The jury has now heard from Detective Chief Inspector Tom Phillips. He was the senior investigating officer tasked with finding Noah and is the inquest’s final witness. 

He told the court that Police may ‘never have answers’ to some questions around Noah’s death. 

Liam Tunney is covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph. 

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Jeffrey Donaldson’s trial is nearing its end. The court has now heard the closing arguments – all that remains is for the judge to give directions to the jury. On Wednesday, Donaldson’s barrister told the jury the complainants were “not sufficiently reliable enough to drive you to a sure conclusion that he is guilty”. 63-year-old Jeffrey Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences which include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. His wife Eleanor Donaldson’s barrister asked the jury to end her nightmare by returning verdicts that she did not do the acts alleged.  The sixty-year-old from Dublinhill Road in Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending.  

She is facing a trial of the facts to test the evidence in the case but cannot result in a criminal conviction.  

Allison Morris was in court.   

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