Detectives have charged a 55-year-old woman with breaching a lifetime ban on reporting the identities of alleged victims in a high-profile court case. She was arrested in the Ballynahinch area on Tuesday, July 28, by officers from Newry Criminal Investigation Department.

The woman is scheduled to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 24. The charge will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service as standard procedure.

The ban stems from the lifelong anonymity granted to victims of sexual offences under UK law. The two complainants in the trial of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson were identified only as Complainant A and Complainant B.

Donaldson was convicted in June of 18 counts of sexual abuse, including one count of rape, committed against the two women when they were children between 1985 and 2008. He is being held at Maghaberry Prison while awaiting sentencing and has lodged an appeal.

Police have issued a reminder that naming or alluding to the identity of victims in such cases may result in arrest and criminal charges.