Eleanor Donaldson: What is a trial of the facts?

Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of 18 child sex abuse charges, including one count of rape. The jury also delivered their verdict against his co-accused, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, who faced five charges, including four related to aiding and abetting. However, due to an unusual legal mechanism used to address the charges she faced, the jury could not find her guilty, in the same way they did her husband, and instead found that she "did the acts" when delivering their verdicts. This is because she faced a trial of the facts after being found unfit for a conventional trial on mental health grounds. Here's what a trial of the facts entails and what it means for Eleanor Donaldson, including that she cannot be given a prison sentence. A trial of the facts is an option that is open to prosecutors if a court determines that a person is unfit to stand trial and criminal proceedings cannot go ahead. It takes the place of a criminal trial and is used to determine whether an accused committed the acts alleged. It cannot result in a conviction, but if the court is not satisfied that the accused committed the acts alleged, then he/she will be acquitted. The procedure

Jun 22, 2026 → Jun 22, 2026