The prison van carrying Jeffrey Donaldson has arrived back at Maghaberry Prison.

Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier today for child sex abuse.

Speaking earlier outside the court, Det Ch Insp Leah Crothers said police and the criminal justice system has "sent a clear message - no one is above the law".

Image source, PA Media

Jeffrey Donaldson's political career is a tale of two Good Fridays: the first a pivotal turning point; the second a shocking end.

It was in 1998, the day the peace deal - the Good Friday Agreement - was signed, bringing an end to decades of conflict in Northern Ireland, that he walked out of talks over the decision of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), of which he was then a member, to support it.

Fast forward 26 years to Good Friday 2024 and the then DUP leader Donaldson was charged with sexual abuse. He resigned as leader and his membership was suspended by the party.

Our political correspondent Jayne McCormack looks back at Donaldson's life in politics.

BBC Newsline will be on air from 13:30 BST. Our reporter Lyndsey Telford will be live from outside Newry Crown Court.

The programme will be streamed live at the top of this page.

As Donaldson is returned to Maghaberry Prison to serve his sentence, former prison governor Ian Acheson tells BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme that protecting the convicted paedophile from harm will be a "massive risk-management headache" for the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

"There are always hierarchies within prisons - and there are even hierarchies within sex offenders - and the lowest of the low and the most vulnerable in terms of hostility from others are those who've been convicted of sexual violence against a minor," says Acheson.

But it's also necessary, he adds, to "examine potential political or sectarian targeting" relating to Donaldson's leadership of the DUP and his service in the Ulster Defence Regiment.

"All of that needs to be considered together in terms of deciding where he's going to be located [inside the prison] and for how long."

Donaldson has left Newry Crown Court and is being transported back to Maghaberry Prison in a white prison van.

Image source, Elizabeth Cook

Court artist Elizabeth Cook was inside the courtroom this morning and drew this sketch of the disgraced former politician as he listened to the judge deliver his sentence.

BBC News NI's Declan Harvey provides a recap of what happened in Newry Crown Court today as Jeffrey Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex abuse.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme after the hearing, our crime and justice correspondent Julian O'Neill described the scene as he watched Donaldson's reaction in the dock.

"There did not appear to be a flicker of emotion whenever I glanced up at Jeffrey Donaldson," he said.

"He was dressed in a blue suit, a white shirt and a pink tie, wearing his glasses, cleanly shaven - he hasn't changed one bit from how he looked at the trial.

"He sat during most of the judge's opening remarks. His head was slightly tilted to his right as he listened intently and then the judge instructed him to stand between two prison officers as he handed down those tariffs.

"And just as he did whenever he was found guilty by the jury four months ago, he showed next to no emotion as the tariff was handed out."

Image source, Pacemaker

The Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows has issued a statement on behalf of his party following today's sentencing.

Jeffrey Donaldson was a member of the UUP and represented the party as an MLA and MP. A period of his offending occurred while he was in the party.

Burrows said today's outcome is the "clearest possible statement that no office, no status and no reputation places anyone above the law, and that the courage of victims who come forward will be met with the full weight of justice".

He added that "no sentence" could give back what was taken from the victims, paying tribute to their courage.

Mr Burrows said their example had encouraged other survivors of historical abuse to seek help and report what happened to them.

He added that the UUP's independent safeguarding review into Donaldson’s years within the party continues and the party "will act on whatever it finds”.

BBC News NI's crime and justice correspondent Julian O'Neill was among the reporters in Newry Crown Court as the former DUP leader was jailed.

He told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme: "Sentencing began not long after 11:00 o'clock and probably took in and around half an hour, 40 minutes.

"Donaldson obviously had been brought to Newry Crown Court by prison van from Maghaberry Prison and the judge asked him to stand in the dock as he handed down his sentence.

"A key, killer line I think from the judge - the stand out line this morning - was that he said Donaldson's offences had led him to a catastrophic descent into disgrace."

You can listen to BBC Talkback live now on BBC Sounds.

Catherine Kierans from the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said the "outcome reflects the strength of the partnership between the PSNI and the PPS, and our shared commitment to tackling sexual crimes and securing justice for victims".

"We recognise that it took great courage for the victims in this case to speak out," Kierans said.

"Victims of sexual abuse should never feel shame for what was done to them. The shame belongs solely to those who commit these offences. We know that the criminal justice outcome will not heal all the hurt the victims have experienced," she said.

"However, we hope it will be of some comfort to them as they look to the future."

Kierans said the PPS recognises it can be daunting for victims of sexual offences to come forward.

However, she added: "My message is that help is available. The first step may be speaking to someone you trust. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, no matter how much time has passed, or who the offender is, dedicated police officers and prosecutors will treat you with respect and dignity.

"Where there is sufficient evidence to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction, we will not hesitate to prosecute and hold offenders to account."

Speaking outside court, head of the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland's serious crime unit Catherine Kierans said that Donaldson "exploited his young victims, causing profound and lasting harm that they continue to live with to this day".

"Despite the devastation he has caused he has never accepted responsibility for his offending nor shown any remorse," Kierans said.

She added that this case "shows sexual abuse can be hidden behind a façade of respectability".

"It also shows that no individual, irrespective of their position, status or public reputation is beyond the reach of the law," she said.

She added: "The courage shown by the two victims in reporting the sexual abuse was the catalyst for a thorough PSNI investigation."

Det Ch Insp Leah Crothers has told reporters that the "brave" women who reported their abuse by Donaldson had been "subjected to speculation online and in the media".

She said their legal right to anonymity has been jeopardised by this and yet "they remained steadfast and supportive of the criminal justice process".

Police "worked tirelessly" to build a "robust case against this man and his wife" whose offending "has shocked our local communities", says Det Ch Insp Leah Crothers.

"The police service and our criminal justice system has sent a clear message: No-one is above the law."

Det Ch Insp Leah Crothers says both of Donaldson's victims have "suffered immeasurably as they come to terms with what has happened to them as children".

"He robbed them both of their childhood and innocence."

Speaking outside Newry Crown Court after the sentencing hearing, Det Ch Insp Leah Crothers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) told reporters that Jeffrey Donaldson "manipulated" both of his young victims and "exploited the trust" they had placed in him.

We're expecting reaction from police and prosecutors outside Newry courthouse soon.

You can watch along by pressing the watch live button at the top of this page.

Image source, MARK MARLOW/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

In a statement following its former leader's sentencing, the DUP said "justice has been done" for Donaldson's "vile and disgusting crimes against his victims".

"Our first thoughts are again with the innocent victims, who having suffered such evil, were re-traumatised through giving evidence at the trial. They deserve our compassion, support and respect. We hope they can find some measure of comfort and can look ahead to a new chapter in their lives," the statement said.

"Regardless of status or position every individual must be held accountable for their actions.

"He deserves every day of the lengthy prison sentence he has to serve following the guilty verdict for preying on innocent child victims."

Luke Sproule
BBC News NI

Prior to sentencing, the judge said aggravating features in this case include the length and protracted nature of the offending spanning many years.

He also took into account the youth of the victims and the age difference between them and Donaldson.

He said he cannot accept that Donaldson's lack of other convictions are a mitigating factor.

The judge said by contesting a case, a defendant avoids the reduction in sentence they would have got if they had pleaded guilty.

"In this case it is highly significant that the defendant denied the offences to the police, he denied them in evidence and to the probation officer he continues to maintain his denials," the judge said.

"He has doubled-down in his denials," he added.

“There has not been, and doubtless will not be, one word of regret, apology or shame from this man to at least provide his victims with some crumb of comfort."