Chaotic scenes as spotlight shines on Donaldson like never before

Crowd gathers outside court and dozens watch remotely for appearance of former DUP leader and wife

Jeffrey Donaldson outside Newry Courthouse.

Allison Morris

The story had dominated the news for days. But Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Lady Eleanor spent barely 10 minutes in the dock of Court Three at Newry Magistrates Court.

It was the briefest of appearances, yet there were still chaotic scenes outside the courthouse, with cameras primed ahead of the Donaldsons’ arrival.