N.Ireland's Donaldson appears in court over rape, other sexual offence charges

Jeffrey Donaldson, former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) charged with historical sex offences, arrives at the Newry Magistrates Court, in Newry, Northern Ireland, April 24, 2024. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

NEWRY, Northern Ireland (Reuters) -The former leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Jeffrey Donaldson, faces 11 historical sex offence charges, including one count of rape, prosecutors told a Northern Irish court on Wednesday.

Donaldson, 61, stepped down suddenly as head of the British region's largest unionist party last month after the DUP said he had been charged with allegations of an historical nature. He is one of Northern Ireland's best-known politicians.