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Northern Ireland's courts were busy again this week where in one of several cases heard, a former paratrooper was found not guilty of committing two murders and five attempted murders on Bloody Sunday over 50 years ago. Also this week, a judge confirmed that the trial of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Lady Donaldson on charges relating to alleged historical sex offences is to be delayed again. And a former Sinn Fein press officer, who was released from jail last August after serving nine months of an 18-month prison sentence for child sex abuse offences, was returned to prison. Below is our weekly roundup of some of those who have been before the courts this week, beginning October 20, 2025. Look out for: Jeffrey and Eleanor Donaldson trial to be delayed, judge confirms The trial of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Lady Donaldson on charges relating to alleged historical sex offences is to be delayed again, a judge has confirmed. During a brief hearing at Newry Crown Court on Monday, Judge Paul Ramsey vacated the trial date of November 3 after receiving updates on reports relating to Eleanor Donaldson’s health. The judge said it now looked as if the trial would take place in 2026. The trial had previously been due to start in March, but had been delayed until November due to Eleanor Donaldson’s medical condition. Read more here Ex DUP man pleads guilty to historical sex offences including indecent exposure A former DUP Alderman has pleaded guilty to further historical sex offences against a female victim. William Ball, 72, was due to go on trial at Belfast Crown Court on two counts of indecent exposure and one of indecently assaulting a young girl. But before a jury was sworn in to hear the trial, defence counsel Noel Dillon told Belfast Recorder Judge Patricia Smyth that he had an application to have Ball, of Richardson Court, Belfast, re-arraigned on two of the three charges. Read more here Man knocked girlfriend unconscious and kicked her head repeatedly, court told A man allegedly knocked his girlfriend unconscious and repeatedly kicked her about the head in a North Belfast street attack , a court heard on Tuesday. Police claimed David O’Neill, 26, left the victim with a deep facial wound and a fractured eye socket. He is also accused of inflicting further injuries on two of her friends who tried to intervene in the Ardonye area last month. O’Neill, of Antrim Close in the city, was refused bail on charges of causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and common assault. Read more here Belfast "courier and custodian" of drugs and cash jailed A "courier and custodian" of cannabis and cash was handed a 20-month sentence on Tuesday for charges arising from a "very significant" drugs seizure in Belfast. Kwok Kai Chen, from Virginia Street in Belfast, was acting "on behalf of an organised crime gang" when he was arrested in September 2024. The 31-year old, who is an illegal immigrant, appeared at Belfast Crown Court where his 20-month sentence was divided equally between custody and licence. Due to time already served in prison, Chen is due for release and will be liable for deportation. Read more here Man charged with murder of pregnant mum 'admitted responsibility', court told A Belfast man charged with the murder of pregnant mum-of-two Sarah Montgomery and causing the destruction of her unborn child admitted responsibility during police interviews, a court heard on Wednesday. During a brief update in the case against Zak Hughes, a prosecuting lawyer told Newtownards Magistrates Court that while the findings of forensics examinations is due in November, he had no specific date for their receipt. While the prosecutor applied for a four-week adjournment, Hughes’ defence solicitor said he was “a little concerned” at delays in the case. Read more here Man jailed for 'loyalist show of strength' in Belfast A 60-year old man was jailed on Wednesday for 18 months for being part of a group of masked men involved in a 'loyalist show of strength' in east Belfast. Derek George Lammey was found guilty earlier this year of an offence of intimidation. Lammey, of Spring Place in east Belfast, was acquitted on charges of unlawful assembly and affray. Co-accused Stephen Matthews was cleared on charges of unlawful assembly, affray and intimidation dating back to February 2021. Judge Gordon Kerr KC delivered his judgement in May this year following a non-jury trial which was held at Belfast Crown Court the previous month. Read more 'Hang your heads in shame': Men who filmed sex without consent sentenced Three men who admitted filming a woman engaging in sexual activity without her consenting to the recording were told on Wednesday by a Judge "you should hang your heads in shame." The trio were all handed 12-month sentences which were suspended for three years by Judge Patrick Lynch KC. Nathan Howard, 28, from Cairndale in Belfast, 24-year old Jason Lewis of Harmin Park in Newtownabbey and Jack Thompson, 23, from Boyne Row in Maghera were sentenced for a single charge of voyeurism dating back to June 2022. Belfast Crown Court heard that the female victim in the case is now "sadly deceased" and that the three defendants initially faced more serious sexual offences which were ultimately not proceeded with. Read more here Man who stole £95,000 Banksy artwork from Belfast gallery is sentenced A man who stole a £95,000 piece of Banksy artwork from a Belfast art gallery has been jailed for eight months. Ahmed Bouazzi, 40, of Roden Street, West Belfast, had previously pleaded guilty to a single count of theft. It was the prosecution case that the incident involved a "high value theft of some £95,000 worth of a piece of art which is a limited edition of a Banksy print''. Belfast Crown Court heard on Wednesday that at around 4pm on April 2 this year, the deputy manager was alone in the Charles Gilmour Fine Art Gallery on Lanyon Quay, as the owner had left. She told police a man, Bouazzi, entered the gallery and started asking "random questions'' about the authenticity of the artwork on display. Read more here Soldier F found not guilty of Bloody Sunday murders and attempted murders A former paratrooper known as Soldier F has been found not guilty of committing two murders and five attempted murders on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry in 1972. Delivering his judgment at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Patrick Lynch said the evidence presented against the veteran fell well short of what was required for conviction. However, the judge said that members of the Parachute Regiment had shot dead unarmed civilians, and those involved should “hang their heads in shame”. Soldier F had been accused of the murders of James Wray and William McKinney on Bloody Sunday, regarded as one of the darkest days of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The veteran had also been accused of attempting to murder Michael Quinn, Patrick O’Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon and an unknown person. Read more here Former Sinn Féin press officer jailed for child sex offences back behind bars A former Sinn Fein press officer, who was released from jail last August after serving nine months of an 18-month prison sentence for child sex abuse offences, has been returned to prison. Earlier this week during a hearing at Coleraine Magistrates Court , Michael McMonagle, formerly of Limewood Street in the Bogside area of Derry, admitted breaching one of his conditions of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. The 44-year-old accessed the internet without the approval of his designated risk manager. The condition was one of many imposed on McMonagle last November when he was sentenced to 18 months, half in prison and half on licence, after he admitted committing fourteen child sex abuse offences. During the Coleraine Courthouse hearing on Wednesday, a PSNI officer told District Judge Peter King that McMonagle was a category two registered sex offender who is subject to Public Protection arrangements. She said the Probation Services were aware of the breach and were "drawing up the paperwork for a recall on licence". Read more here For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
