Debate contribution: Jeffrey Donaldson: Sentencing

Debate contribution by Ms Diane Forsythe on 19 October 2026.

MLA: Ms Diane Forsythe
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 19 October 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Matter of the Day
Heading: Jeffrey Donaldson: Sentencing
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5795264

Text

The shock, horror and devastation that has been felt throughout this case runs very deep. Those evil crimes have rightly seen justice served in court.
Today, I will speak about the victims — complainant A and complainant B — their incredible bravery, as others have said, and the importance of the voice of the lived experience in our justice system and the victim impact statements in the sentencing process. Nobody can overestimate the personal nature of sexual abuse within our community. The way that those victims felt needs to be heard. Their case has really shone a light on the feelings involved and the long-term impact. Complainant A said:
"My childhood was stolen from me and I will never get it back".
As a mother, I see my children in that quote and think about how I would feel if they came to me with that. Complainant A also said:
"The effects of the Donaldsons' actions have bled into every part of my life. ... their impact did not end when the abuse ended. ... The last few years have been nothing short of a battle".
Complainant B said:
"What happened took away my ability to trust people, and, in all honesty, I don't think I really know what trust or love truly is".
That is absolutely heartbreaking to hear. They are so brave, and I hope that they find some measure of comfort in the sentencing as it has come out. The important thing that we also need to highlight is that there are many victims whose voices do not get heard. In my area, I recently was at a conference of Advocacy VSV. Anna Kahill has a book, 'Not the Perfect Victim'. She came forward some 17 years after an offence, but she did not get her case heard in court. She described herself as "not the perfect victim". There are no "perfect victims". Victims are innocent. They are prey to predators, the evil that walks amongst our society. We need to reflect on the court process. We saw complainant A and complainant B retraumatised through having to give evidence at the trial. We saw the way in which they were publicised, the attack on removing the anonymity that they have the right to, and the way that they were cross-examined. Some of the questioning was extremely triggering for so many people. I work in this sector. I chair the all-party group on domestic and sexual violence, and the number of people who have been in touch with me has been overwhelming. Those victims deserve our compassion. Jeffrey Donaldson deserves every day of his sentence that was applied, but I want to make sure that everyone takes the time to think of those victims in this case, and victims right across Northern Ireland, as they think of the language that is used today.

475 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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