Closing speeches are set to begin on Tuesday morning in the trial of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson at Newry Crown Court. Sir Jeffrey is contesting 18 sexual offence charges, including one count of rape.

The charges span from 1985 to 2008. He denies gross indecency and indecent assault against one alleged victim, Complainant A, when she was a child between 1999 and 2008. The rape charge and other alleged offences relate to a second complainant, Complainant B, and date back to 1985.

Co-accused Lady Eleanor Donaldson faces a trial of the facts after being deemed unfit for a conventional trial on mental health grounds. She denies aiding and abetting and is not participating in the proceedings.

The defence closed its case on Monday. The jury, comprising seven men and five women, was told that closing speeches will start with the prosecution on Tuesday. Lawyers for both defendants will then deliver their closing submissions, with the process expected to conclude by Wednesday. The judge will then direct the jury before they retire to consider verdicts.