Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson to appeal child sex convictions
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson is to appeal his convictions for historic child sexual offences.
Donaldson, aged 63, was convicted last month at Newry Crown Court of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.
The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for 10 hours over three days before coming to their verdicts.
The former long-standing Lagan Valley MP consistently denied the charges against him.
He is currently being held at Maghaberry Prison in his former parliamentary constituency awaiting sentencing.
On Friday, Donaldson’s legal team lodged paperwork with the Court of Appeal setting out the grounds on which he will attempt to have all 18 guilty verdicts set aside.