Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson will stand trial along with his wife Eleanor in May on historical sexual offences.
Sir Jeffrey and his wife Lady Donaldson will stand trial on May 26 at Newry Crown Court. It is expected that the trial will last four weeks.
Sir Jeffrey, who is 63, is accused of 18 offences, including one count of rape. Lady Donaldson, 59, is accused of five charges relating to aiding and abetting. The offences were allegedly committed between 1985 and 2008.
The trial has been postponed twice due to concerns over Lady Donaldson’s health.
On Monday, at court in Newry, Lady Donaldson’s barrister, Ian Turkington KC, told the judge Paul Ramsey that his client is “seriously unwell."
