Sir Jeffrey Donaldson denies apology to alleged victim was about abuse

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson confirmed he apologised to an alleged abuse victim, but denied it was because of any offences committed against her.

The former MP insisted he made the remark when he met with the woman because he was "sorry if she felt uncomfortable".

He also denied a barrister's suggestion he had been "caught in the act" during a separate incident where he is accused of using a light to stare at another alleged victim.

The former DUP leader, 63, who is on trial at Newry Crown Court, pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences, including one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency between 1985 and 2008.

Two women, referred to as complainant A and B, both allege they were abused as children and have given evidence at the trial for historic offences.

Donaldson's wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, 60, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband's alleged offending.

She is facing a trial of the facts on mental health grounds.

On Friday, prosecution barrister Rosemary Walsh KC continued to cross-examine Donaldson for a second day.

She referred to a meeting between Donaldson in the 1990s and 'complainant B', which also involved David Hoy, the founder of the Christian Family Centre in Armoy in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

The jury previously heard 'complainant B' stayed at the centre in the 1990s after developing an issue with drugs, and told a church pastor about the alleged abuse.

The court previously heard complainant B claim Donaldson apologised to her at that meeting. He said he was not apologising for any allegations of abuse.

The barrister asked Donaldson if he did not see "anything strange" about the approach from Mr Hoy, to which Donaldson said it was "not unusual" for him to get a phone call from someone he had never met before.

Ms Walsh suggested Donaldson needed to meet Mr Hoy because "he was going to be talking to you about a sensitive matter".

Donaldson said: "That is absolutely not true," adding that he had not tried to "avoid the meeting", and was happy to meet Mr Hoy.

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Ms Walsh pointed out that Mr Hoy's evidence to the court was that an "allegation" had been made.

Donaldson answered: "The word allegation was never mentioned to me. If it had been mentioned I would have immediately asked what it was about."

Ms Walsh said Donaldson attended the meeting in Amoy as he "knew this was something you needed to nip in the bud", but the defendant replied: "That is not true at all."

Questioned over apology

When asked about the apology at the meeting, the former MP told the court he had said he was "sorry if she felt uncomfortable".

The barrister asked: "What were you apologising for?"

He said: "That she felt uncomfortable."

Donaldson also denied suggestions from Ms Walsh that he did not want complainant B "going through allegations" and attempted to "shut her down".

Donaldson denies touching girl

Ms Walsh then moved on to allegations against Donaldson made by complainant A, to which Donaldson denied any sexual abuse started when she was of primary school age.

The barrister asked about the allegations of abuse, including "touching outside of clothing", putting his tongue in her mouth, and using a light, possibly a torch, to look at her genitals.

In each case, he strongly denied the allegations.

He also denied the barrister's suggestion that he was "panicking" over claims he was "caught in the act".

The trial continues on Monday.

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