Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, took the witness stand at Newry Crown Court on Thursday and told jurors that the two women who have accused him of historical sexual abuse are lying.

The 63-year-old was called by his defence counsel, Kieran Vaughan KC, shortly after 10:30 am. He denies 18 charges, including one count of rape, indecent assault, and gross indecency, alleged to have occurred between 1985 and 2008.

When asked by Mr Vaughan if he accepted any of the allegations made by Complainant B, the older of the two women, he replied no. He gave the same answer in relation to Complainant A.

The court has heard that Donaldson sent a letter to Complainant A in June 2020 in which he expressed regret for hurt and distress. Under questioning from his barrister, he said the letter was not about any abuse but concerned a separate matter related to infidelity.

During cross-examination by prosecution counsel Rosemary Walsh KC, Donaldson maintained that both complainants had not told the truth. He rejected suggestions that he abused Complainant B, saying he was certain the rape allegation was false. When asked why he thought she would make such claims, he speculated that she may have felt resentment because his political career was advancing while she was dealing with drug problems at a Christian centre in Armoy, Co Antrim.

He told the court that his arrest by police in 2024 came as a complete shock. Officers arrived at his home at 6 am and he described his thoughts afterwards as confused.

Donaldson also briefly recounted his political career, telling the jury he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly at 22 and became an MP in 1997, and was involved in negotiations ahead of the Good Friday Agreement.

His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, 60, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, faces separate charges of aiding and abetting his alleged offending. She is not participating in the trial after being found unfit to stand a conventional trial on mental health grounds and instead faces a trial of the facts.

The trial, now in its third week, continues with the cross-examination of the former MP scheduled to resume on Friday.