The State of Us

22. The sentencing of Jeffrey Donaldson

Tara Mills and Declan Harvey report on the prison sentence handed to Jeffrey Donaldson.

15 Oct 2026,·28 mins

21. Victims face Donaldson

The two women were in court as Jeffrey Donaldson's sentence was considered.

25 Sep 2026,·11 mins

20. Jeffrey and Eleanor to appeal

Eleanor Donaldson is to appeal the verdict from her trial of the facts.

17 Sep 2026,·10 mins

19. The verdict

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is a convicted paedophile and child rapist.

22 Jun 2026,·27 mins

18. Jury still deciding

The jury considers the combined 23 charges for a second day.

19 Jun 2026,·1 min

17. Jury considers verdict

The jury retires to consider the combined 23 charges.

18 Jun 2026,·12 mins

16. Final arguments Part 2

Eleanor Donaldson’s barrister has asked the jury to find her not guilty of all charges

17 Jun 2026,·11 mins

15. Final arguments

Barristers began closing statements today in court.

16 Jun 2026,·22 mins

14. The defence closes its case

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s defence team closed its case today.

15 Jun 2026,·3 mins

13. 'Sinful and deceitful'

Jeffrey Donaldson completes his evidence to the trial.

12 Jun 2026,·12 mins

12. Jeffrey in the witness box.

The jury hears from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson in person as he takes to the witness stand.

11 Jun 2026,·15 mins

11.Eleanor's police interview

The court heard Eleanor Donaldson was on ‘red alert’ for years regarding her husband.

09 Jun 2026,·17 mins

10.Jeffrey's police interview

The trial hears the moment police put the rape allegation to Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

08 Jun 2026,·13 mins

9. Court told Eleanor ‘still loved’ Jeffrey

Five witnesses gave evidence in court today.

05 Jun 2026,·15 mins

8. Jeffrey's WhatsApp message

The court hears Jeffrey Donaldson sent a message saying he wanted to repent.

04 Jun 2026,·8 mins

7. Tearful witness blames herself.

A witness tells the court she should have gone to police sooner.

03 Jun 2026,·13 mins

6. Rape allegations

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is accused of raping a child.

02 Jun 2026,·12 mins,·

5. Woman told she’s ‘making up’ abuse

One of the two women accusing Sir Jeffrey Donaldson finished her evidence today.

01 Jun 2026,·11 mins

4. Eleanor accused of seeing abuse

Lady Donaldson is accused of witnessing her husband’s alleged abuse but not intervening.

29 May 2026,·7 mins

3. Letter of 'regret'

The trial is told Sir Jeffrey Donaldson wrote a letter to one of the two alleged victims

28 May 2026,·7 mins

2. The Prosecution’s case

Prosecutors have begun setting out the case against the Donaldsons.

27 May 2026,·11 mins

1. Jury sworn in

A jury is sworn in for the trial of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and Lady Eleanor Donaldson.

26 May 2026,·12 mins

The Donaldson trial

Solicitor Sarah McKeown discusses some big pre-trial decisions the judge has made.

22 May 2026,·11 mins

9. ‘Seismic’ court ruling

Garvaghy Road residents lost their bid to challenge the Parades Commission's decision.

12 Oct 2026,·16 mins

8. Bryant bans parade

The Secretary of State has banned the Orange Order parade on Garvaghy Road.

10 Oct 2026,·14 mins

7. Back in court

The Appeal Court reserves judgment in a residents bid to challenge the Drumcree parade.

05 Oct 2026,·13 mins

6. The new legal battle lines

Garvaghy Road residents are heading back to the Court of Appeal on Friday.

30 Sep 2026,·13 mins

5. Was the law broken?

First Minister Michelle O’Neill has been reported to the police by the Orange Order.

29 Sep 2026,·14 mins

4. Rules v Reality

The rules of marching and policing. How do they play out and do they apply to everyone?

28 Sep 2026,·16 mins

3. Inside the court battle

How the courts gave the Drumcree march the go ahead.

27 Sep 2026,·15 mins