Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, has testified at his trial on historical sex offence charges, telling the jury he did not abuse either of the two complainants.

The 63-year-old was called to give evidence by his defence barrister at Newry Crown Court shortly after 10:30 am on Thursday. He denies 18 charges, including one count of rape, indecent assault, and gross indecency, alleged to have occurred between 1985 and 2008.

The two women, referred to as Complainant A and Complainant B, have both given evidence that they were abused as children. Donaldson, when asked by his barrister Kieran Vaughan KC, said he did not accept any of the allegations made by either woman.

The court has heard about a letter Donaldson wrote to Complainant A in June 2020 in which he expressed regret for the hurt and distress he said he had caused. He read extracts from the letter and told the court it was not about any alleged abuse. His barrister said the letter concerned another matter.

Donaldson outlined his political career to the jury, stating he developed an interest in politics at age 18, was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly at 22, and became an MP in 1997. He said he was involved in negotiations before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

His wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 60, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting his alleged offending. She faces a trial of the facts after being deemed unfit to stand a conventional trial on mental health grounds, and is not taking part in the proceedings.

The trial, now in its third week, continues.