The handling of the child sex abuse trial of Jeffrey Donaldson has shown that changes to the way such criminal cases are dealt with have been “monumental”, according to a retired judge.
Sir John Gillen conducted a major review into how sexual offences are handled in Northern Ireland and made 250 recommendations in 2019.
On Monday, Donaldson, the former Democratic Unionist Party leader, was convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse, including one count of rape, against two women when they were children.
Gillen said the trial has “struck a blow” against a culture in Northern Ireland which “hasn’t properly heard women and girls and children in the past”.
He said “there’s much to be done,” but that the outcome of the trial has “spoken to women and victims”.
One of the main recommendations in Gillen’s review was for the use of video-recorded interviews between the police and complainant.
He said this was an example of things “changing radically” with remote evidence centres being a “move towards privacy and dignity”.
Gillen thinks “the changes that have been made will now make it a lot easier for victims to come forward.”
Another recommendation suggested that measures be brought in to combat rape myths and stereotypes.
He described myths as “impediments to justice in the past”.
Gillen said: “Anyone who has witnessed these trials will see now the sea change that has happened in the way that rape myths are dealt with.”
Speaking on Good Morning Ulster, he said: “The judge conducted the trial in a way that protects the rights of the accused,” but added: “There’s a balance which has been established and I think this trial shows this.”
