The trial of former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson on multiple charges of historical child sex abuse has heard evidence from two complainants at Newry Crown Court.

The 63-year-old former MP, with an address in Dromore, County Down, faces 18 counts including one of rape, four of gross indecency with a child, and 13 of indecent assault on a female. The alleged offences span from 1985 to 2008. He has pleaded not guilty.

His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, is charged with five counts of aiding and abetting in connection with the allegations against her husband. She denies the charges. She has been ruled unfit to stand trial on medical grounds and is not present in court. The jury of seven men and five women will determine whether she committed the acts based on the evidence presented.

The two complainants, who cannot be identified legally, have testified via video link over five days, completing their evidence at the halfway point of the estimated four-week trial.

Complainant B detailed ten allegations against Jeffrey Donaldson, including rape and nine indecent assaults, said to have occurred between 1985 and 1991 when she was aged between approximately seven and 13. She told the court that during one incident, while she was still in primary school, he raped her. She also claimed that Eleanor Donaldson witnessed an act of abuse and failed to intervene, later seeking to apologise.

The court heard from David Hoy, co-founder of the Christian Family Centre in Armoy, County Antrim, that he arranged a meeting between Jeffrey Donaldson and Complainant B. Hoy testified that the former MP stated he knew the purpose of the meeting, apologised, and asked for forgiveness. The defence has argued the apology concerned the complainant feeling uncomfortable, not an admission of abuse.

Complainant B became emotional during cross-examination, telling the court she blamed herself for not reporting the abuse earlier and felt responsible for the subsequent abuse of the second complainant.

Complainant A detailed eight charges against Jeffrey Donaldson: four of gross indecency and four of indecent assault, dated between 1999 and 2008. She described being sexually abused from a young age, including incidents where he allegedly touched her under her clothing and entered her room at night with a light while she was in her early teens. She said she received a letter from him describing himself as a sinner and expressing regret for the hurt caused. The defence suggested the letter was related to a marital dispute and not the abuse allegations.

Barristers for Jeffrey and Eleanor Donaldson have put it to the complainants that no inappropriate touching occurred and that the allegations are fabricated. The defence for Eleanor Donaldson stated she did not facilitate any abuse and never saw anything inappropriate.

The trial continues.