Northern Ireland's unionist party
The former Democratic Unionist Party leader, Jeffrey Donaldson, is standing trial in Newry Crown Court on 18 charges spanning 1985 to 2008, including a rape count. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, faces separate charges. Both deny the allegations as the case proceeds.
A 30-year-old Sudanese national has been charged with attempted murder after a man in his 40s was stabbed in Belfast. The suspect remains in custody as police investigate amid protests tied to immigration tensions in the UK. The Home Office says the attacker arrived in the UK in 2023 and was granted refugee status; officials say there is no record of prior security alerts.
Protests in Belfast — sparked by a knife attack in which a Sudanese national is charged with attempted murder — have erupted into violence across multiple districts. Rioters have set vehicles and buildings alight, with police deploying water cannon and crews working to protect residents amid rising tensions tied to immigration debates.
Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty on 18 counts of child sex offences, including rape and indecent assault, involving two victims who were children at the time. His wife, Eleanor, is deemed to have aided and abetted some offences but was found unfit for trial on mental health grounds. Sentencing will follow later this year.
Protesters in Belfast torch vehicles and buildings after a Sudanese man is arrested for a knife attack that left a man severely injured. Police declare a critical incident and call for calm as political leaders condemn the violence.
Two high-profile UK actors have been found guilty of multiple sexual offences against women between 2004 and 2019. One case involves a former River City star convicted of rape, with sentencing set for July 23. The other case centers on a Glasgow-based actor also convicted of five offences after trial.
The former leader of Northern Ireland’s DUP has been found guilty of 18 historical sexual offences against two women who were children at the time. He has renounced his knighthood and resigned from the Privy Council; honours removal now proceeds under the Forfeiture Committee process, pending royal approval. The case triggers scrutiny of state honours tied to figures found guilty of criminal offences.
Two Independent articles outline the human impact of indefinite IPP detention, showing how uncertainty over sentences and repeated recalls drive despair, with fresh cases prompting calls for urgent reform.
Northern Ireland's bonfire season has again drawn condemnation after a replica mosque was placed on a Moygashel bonfire and lit early. Police are investigating incitement to hatred, amid broader debates over safety, immigration rhetoric, and community tensions surrounding the Twelfth of July celebrations.
Conservative MP Patrick Spencer has been found not guilty of two counts of sexual assault after a trial at Southwark Crown Court concerning incidents at the Groucho Club in August 2023. The jury has cleared him; he has maintained innocence and described the proceedings as a test of character.
The new Labour government is taking office as Northern Ireland faces a looming Stormont budget shortfall and ongoing talks with local parties. Benn says the onus is on the executive to seal a budget, while Sinn Féin and other parties call for early engagement and reform. Public services are operating under contingency measures as the budget stalemate continues.
The parliamentary standards commissioner has opened formal investigations into Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice over his failure to declare an interest, while Nigel Farage faces related scrutiny over a £5 million donation. The probes come amid ongoing questions about political finance and transparency as the party encounters renewed public attention.