Alleged victim in Jeffrey Donaldson trial says she delayed reporting abuse and blames herself for second victim's experience
Complainant B, the older of two alleged victims in the Sir Jeffrey Donaldson sex abuse trial, testified at Newry Crown Court that she did not report the alleged abuse earlier and regrets that delay, believing it contributed to the abuse of the second complainant. She disclosed the allegations during her time at the Christian Family Centre in Armoy as a teenager, after being sent there due to drug use and theft. Donaldson, 63, denies 18 charges including rape and indecent assault spanning 1985 to 2008. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, is undergoing a trial of the facts after being deemed unfit to stand trial. Cross-examination included questions about her past behaviour and a disputed claim that she urged a pastor not to report the abuse. All sources agree on core facts, though some include additional allegations and emotional context.
While all sources report the same central event—the testimony of Complainant B in Donaldson’s trial—there are significant differences in framing, completeness, and emphasis. RTÉ and Irish Times introduce critical new allegations from the defence that challenge the complainant’s credibility, while others omit these details entirely. BBC News offers the most psychologically nuanced portrayal of the complainant’s internal conflict, whereas TheJournal.ie is the most restrained and fact-focused. Daily Mail appears to be a later update but lacks key elements present in earlier reports.
- ✓ Complainant B is the older of two alleged victims who have accused Sir Jeffrey Donaldson of sexual abuse spanning from 1985 to 2008.
- ✓ Ten of the 18 charges against Donaldson relate to Complainant B, with alleged offences occurring between 1985 and 1991.
- ✓ Complain combust B disclosed the alleged abuse during her time at the Christian Family Centre in Armoy, County Antrim, as a teenager.
- ✓ She expressed regret for not reporting the abuse earlier and said she blamed herself, particularly for the subsequent abuse of the second alleged victim, stating: 'It's my fault what happened.'
- ✓ Complainant B admitted to using ecstasy and marijuana and stealing approximately £500 during her teenage years, which led to her being sent to the Christian Family Centre.
- ✓ Kieran Vaughan KC, barrister for Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, conducted the cross-examination of Complainant B on June 3, 2026, at Newry Crown Court.
- ✓ Sir Jeffrey Donaldson denies all 18 charges, including rape, gross indecency, and indecent assault.
- ✓ Eleanor Donaldson, his wife, is facing a trial of the facts after being ruled unfit to stand trial due to mental health grounds; she denies aiding and abetting charges and does not appear in court.
Focus on emotional and psychological motivation for delayed reporting
Does not mention 'trying not to be a victim' at all; instead focuses on her interaction with a pastor and alleged threat to call the abuse a 'lie'.
Expands on this with direct quotes: 'I tried to move on... I tried to not be the victim,' providing deeper psychological context.
Emphasizes that Complainant B said she 'tried not to be a victim' as a reason for not reporting earlier.
Highlights emotional breakdown: 'Complainant B broke down as she said: “If I’d done that, it wouldn’t have happened [to her]. It’s my fault.”' Adds emotional weight.
Uses a more neutral phrasing: 'she should have brought the alleged abuse to police years earlier,' downplaying emotional framing.
Inclusion of new and potentially damaging allegations from the defence
Includes significant new detail: that Complainant B allegedly told a pastor, 'Don’t go to the police, if you do, I’ll tell them it’s all a lie,' and that she minimised contact with the Donaldsons despite later social interactions.
Also includes the 'lie' quote but frames it as disputed: the witness says she doesn’t remember saying it and calls it 'the stupidest thing I ever said.'
Do not mention the 'lie' allegation or the pastor interaction at all, omitting a key line of defence questioning.
Reporting on the trial of the facts for Eleanor Donaldson
Mention the trial of the facts but offer less clarity on its legal implications or absence from proceedings.
Provide clear explanation: that the trial of the facts cannot result in a criminal conviction and that Eleanor Donaldson will not appear in court.
Timing and emphasis of publication
Published earliest (11:46), focuses on core testimony and emotional narrative, includes PSNI reporting timeline.
Published latest (17:21), includes updates but lacks new details from earlier reports, appears to be a later update version.
Published midday, concise and factual, omits emotional breakdown and 'lie' claim.
Published around noon, focus on new revelations from cross-examination (pastor interaction, credibility challenges).
Daily Mail
Framing: Focuses on the personal psychological struggle of the complainant, particularly her attempt to avoid victimhood, to explain delayed reporting.
Tone: Somewhat empathetic, with a focus on the complainant’s internal conflict, but lacks depth on defence challenges.
Framing by Emphasis: Headline centers on the psychological framing of 'trying not to be a victim,' which personalizes the delay in reporting.
"she didn't report former DUP leader to police years earlier because she had 'tried not to be a victim'"
Framing by Emphasis: Includes the detail about complainant blaming herself for the second victim's abuse, but does not explore it further.
"the first woman blamed herself for the subsequent abuse of the other accuser"
Omission: Mentions drug use and centre placement but does not connect it to credibility challenges raised by the defence.
"She told the court that she had taken ecstasy and marijuana, but denied that she was addicted"
Omission: No mention of the 'lie' allegation or interaction with the pastor, omitting a key defence strategy.
TheJournal.ie
Framing: Presents the event as a factual courtroom update, minimizing emotional or psychological interpretation.
Tone: Neutral and concise, prioritizing procedural clarity over narrative or emotional depth.
Balanced Reporting: Headline uses neutral language: 'should have brought the alleged abuse to police,' avoiding emotional or psychological framing.
"she should have brought the alleged abuse to police years earlier"
Balanced Reporting: Reports basic facts of the testimony without highlighting emotional moments or defence allegations.
"Complainant B added that she originally thought her issues could have been 'dealt with at home'"
Proper Attribution: Includes explanation of trial of the facts and Eleanor Donaldson’s absence, providing legal context.
"cannot result in a criminal conviction. Eleanor Donaldson will not appear in court"
Omission: Omits the 'lie' allegation and emotional breakdown, suggesting selective reporting.
RTÉ
Framing: Frames the testimony through the lens of defence scrutiny, emphasizing credibility challenges and contradictions.
Tone: Skeptical and detail-oriented, highlighting potential weaknesses in the complainant’s account.
Narrative Framing: Headline focuses on procedural aspect—'on stand for second day'—framing the story as ongoing legal process.
"Complainant B on stand for second day in Donaldson trial"
Cherry-Picking: Introduces the significant allegation that complainant told a pastor she would call the abuse a 'lie' if reported, directly challenging credibility.
"she would say it had all been a 'lie'"
Framing by Emphasis: Highlights contradictions in her testimony, such as continued contact with Donaldsons despite claiming to avoid him.
"these occasions 'undermined' her evidence"
Framing by Emphasis: Focuses on defence strategy and inconsistencies, suggesting a more adversarial courtroom portrayal.
"Mr Vaughan also questioned her account that she had minimised contact"
Irish Times
Framing: Balances emotional vulnerability with defence allegations, presenting both the trauma and the credibility challenge.
Tone: Empathetic but critical, acknowledging both the complainant’s distress and the defence’s points.
Framing by Emphasis: Headline emphasizes self-blame, drawing attention to emotional and moral responsibility.
"blames herself for what happened to his second alleged victim"
Appeal to Emotion: Reports emotional breakdown: 'Complainant B broke down,' adding affective weight to testimony.
"Complainant B broke down as she said: 'If I’d done that, it wouldn’t have happened'"
Balanced Reporting: Includes the 'lie' allegation but presents it as contested, with the witness disavowing it.
"I don’t remember saying that. If I did, it’s the stupidest thing I ever said"
Appeal to Emotion: Acknowledges her embarrassment and fear, contextualizing her hesitation.
"I was 'so afraid' of what would happen... 'embarrassed' about things she had done"
BBC News
Framing: Focuses on the moral and psychological burden of delayed reporting, portraying the complainant as conflicted but sincere.
Tone: Empathetic and reflective, with attention to emotional and ethical dimensions.
Balanced Reporting: Headline uses measured language: 'should have reported,' avoiding sensationalism.
"she should have reported it to police long ago"
Framing by Emphasis: Includes direct quotes expressing psychological struggle: 'I tried to not be the victim,' providing depth.
"I tried to move on, to be the bigger person. I tried to not be the victim"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Adds context about when allegations were reported to PSNI and arrests, enhancing timeline completeness.
"Both complainants... reported their allegations to the PSNI in March 2024"
Omission: Omits the 'lie' allegation and pastor interaction, missing a key defence line.
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