Donaldson trial 'struck blow' against culture that 'didn't hear women' (opens original article in a new tab)

A retired judge said the conviction of Jeffrey Donaldson in a child sex abuse trial marked significant progress in addressing systemic issues with handling sexual offences in Northern Ireland, citing changes in procedures and attitudes towards victims.

• Retired judge Sir John Gillen called the handling of Jeffrey Donaldson's trial a 'monumental' change in dealing with sexual offences
• Gillen's 2019 review recommended video-recorded police interviews and measures against rape myths
• The trial was described as striking a blow against a culture that failed to properly hear women and victims