A judicial officer has scheduled another review session in ten days for the sexual abuse case concerning the ex-Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson.
It is scheduled for 20 October and will decide if their combined trial can go ahead as planned on 3 November at Newry Crown Court.
Sir Jeffrey, aged 62, is facing 18 allegations, including a single charge of sexual assault. Lady Donaldson, who is 59, is dealing with five counts connected to assistance and encouragement.
They reject all the charges, which are said to have occurred between 1985 and 2008.
Their court hearing was scheduled for March, but was delayed until next month because of Lady Donaldson’s poor health.
On Friday, Newry Crown Court was informed that she has additional medical appointments planned for the following week.
The prosecutor is also awaiting the delivery of her general practitioner’s notes and records.
The case was postponed until 20 October, with Judge Paul Ramsey stating: “We hope to have a clearer understanding of the medical situation and whether we can move forward.”
None of the defendants were present at Friday’s brief court session.
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