Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years for child sex offences

The case concerned sexual offences against two women when they were children. nu.nl reported that the abuse began when they were seven years old.

Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, denied the allegations in court, according to DIE ZEIT. He was convicted in June of 18 counts of sexual abuse, GB News reported.

The June convictions preceded a 15-year prison sentence at Newry Crown Court. The court location was confirmed in the October 17 report from Express & Star.

The supplied coverage differs on the sentencing date. Sky News reported the sentence on October 14, while reports dated October 15, including Infobae, described it as being imposed that Thursday. The reports agree on the 15-year term.

Reporting on October 15, The Independent said Judge Paul Ramsey observed that Donaldson had shown no "regret, apology or shame" after being convicted of the 18 offences. The Financial Times reported the judge's description of a "catastrophic descent into disgrace".

On October 17, Express & Star reported that Mary Lou McDonald hoped the sentencing would bring closure for the victims.

Donaldson has received a 15-year prison sentence for the offences against the two victims. Al Jazeera reported that he is seeking to appeal his convictions and that the judge said he had never apologised to the victims.

The supplied coverage does not report an outcome for that appeal effort.

The outstanding legal issue is Donaldson's attempt to appeal his convictions, reported by Al Jazeera. The coverage does not give a hearing date or details of the grounds he intends to argue.