A MEDICAL REPORT on Eleanor Donaldson is said to be “imminent” as the judge in the case called on her doctor to be made aware of the “urgency in this matter”.

At the last review in the trial of Jeffrey and Eleanor Donaldson in November, Newry Crown Court was told that “genuine medical issues” had arisen in relation to Eleanor.

Jeffrey Donaldson, who did not attend today’s brief hearing, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

The charges include one count of rape as well as allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency.

The charges span a time period between 1985 and 2008, and there are two alleged victims.

Eleanor Donaldson, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, who also did not attend today, is facing charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies.

The couple’s trial has already been postponed twice due to Eleanor Donaldson’s ill-health.

Speaking at the November review in the case, Ian Turkington KC, barrister for Eleanor Donaldson, said it was “necessary to engage a further consultant psychiatrist”.

He said the medical examination would take place on 19 December and that he hoped to have the report from it within two or three weeks.

Judge Paul Ramsey set a review hearing for 23 January and said he hoped to be in a better position by then to know where the court stood in terms of being able to set a new trial date.

Speaking in November, the judge said he understood the public may have questions about what is stopping the trial from going ahead.

At today’s review, Judge Ramsey asked where the court now stood and Turkington said the examination took place before Christmas but that the report is still outstanding.

He told the court that he asked the doctor’s secretary when the report would be completed and was told that “it is imminent and he is working on it at the moment”.

Turkington called for another review next week “in the hope that by this day next week we will have the report”.

He added that without the report, it is not possible to “meaningfully timetable the next steps”.

The judge said he was “disappointed” that the report was not completed and that he thought it would have been completed by now.

He agreed to schedule another review for 30 January and asked that the court be informed if the report is completed before next Friday.

The judge also said the doctor should be informed of the “urgency in this matter” and added: “Hopefully we will be in a position then to progress the matter further.”

Jeffrey Donaldson, the long-standing MP for Lagan Valley, was arrested and charged at the end of March 2024.

He resigned as DUP leader and was suspended from the party after the allegations emerged.

Weeks before his arrest, he had led the DUP back into Stormont after a two-year boycott of the power-sharing institutions.

Previous deputy leader Gavin Robinson was appointed his successor as DUP chief.