The prosecution opened its case on Wednesday against former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson at Newry Crown Court.

Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 charges including one count of rape, four counts of gross indecency and 13 counts of indecent assault.

The charges relate to alleged offences between 1985 and 2008 involving two complainants.

His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 60, faces a trial of the facts on charges of aiding and abetting after being found unfit for a standard trial.

The trial opened on Tuesday with a jury sworn in and is expected to last three to four weeks.

Proceedings on Wednesday morning were adjourned until 14:00 BST for legal discussions.

The Donaldsons were arrested at their County Down home on 28 March 2024.

Donaldson resigned as DUP leader the following day.

One complainant described two specific incidents during a police interview, one before she started secondary school and another at a different location.

The complainant stated that Donaldson apologised to her at a meeting arranged at a church retreat in the mid-1990s.