A judge may decide by Oct. 20 whether former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s November trial on historical sex charges will proceed, pending medical evaluations.

A decision on whether the November trial of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Eleanor Donaldson on historical sex offence charges will proceed is pending, with Judge Paul Ramsey indicating a determination may come by October 20. The trial, delayed from March due to Eleanor Donaldson’s medical condition, remains under review as ongoing evaluations continue. Jeffrey Donaldson, 62, denies 18 charges including rape and indecent assault from 1985 to 2008 involving two victims. His wife, 59, denies aiding and abetting. Both did not attend a recent court update. The trial date remains tentatively set for November 3, but its progress depends on medical assessments. Donaldson resigned as DUP leader and was suspended after his March 2024 arrest and had recently led the party back into Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government.