Eleanor Donaldson, the wife of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, has been placed on the sex offenders' register for five years and given a three-year supervision and treatment order (STO) by a judge at Newry Crown Court. She was found to have aided and abetted her husband's offending following a trial of the facts earlier this year. Judge Paul Ramsey explained the order to her when she appeared briefly by videolink at the end of proceedings.

Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, a former MP for Lagan Valley, was convicted at Newry Crown Court in June of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children. The offences were committed between 1985 and 2008. He had denied the charges, but both victims gave evidence against him, and he has been sentenced to 15 years, of which he will serve half in jail. Both he and his wife are appealing their convictions.S1S2

Eleanor Donaldson, 60, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, was found unfit to participate in a conventional trial on mental health grounds and instead faced a trial of the facts. The jury found she had done the acts in relation to a number of charges of aiding and abetting her husband's crimes, but she could not be found guilty or sent to prison. She did not attend proceedings throughout the trial but was represented by a legal team.S2S1

At the hearing, the court heard from two medical experts on disposal, and Judge Ramsey said the medical evidence regarding Eleanor Donaldson was unchallenged, calling an STO the inevitable conclusion. Under the order she will be supervised for three years by a social worker from the Craigavon Community Mental Health Team, attending appointments, undergoing treatment and allowing home visits, and she will be subject to sex offender notification requirements for five years. Prosecuting barrister Rosemary Walsh KC said pain permeated the victims' statements, and both victims were in court for the hearing.S2S1