Latest: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson case returns to court

A preliminary enquiry (PE) to establish if there is sufficient evidence to send former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson to trial over historical sex offences will take place on July 3, a court heard today (Wednesday).

The date for the committal proceedings was fixed when the case against Donaldson and his co-accused, his wife Eleanor Donaldson, was briefly mentioned at Newry Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Neither accused was in court, having been excused from attending.

The 61-year-old MP for Lagan Valley was arrested and charged in relation to historical sexual allegations at the end of March. He faces 11 charges - one of rape, one of committing an act of gross indecency and nine of indecent assault on dates between 1985 and 2006. The offences relate to two alleged victims.

His wife (58) of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, faces charges of aiding and abetting in connection with the alleged offences.

The next review hearing in the case will take place on June 12.

Today, barrister Fiona O'Kane, for the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service, gave an update on progress of the case.

"The case is progressing quite expeditiously," she told District Judge Eamonn King.

"The position this morning is that we would hope to be able to have the PE (preliminary enquiry) itself on the third of July."

She said the review hearing on June 12 would provide an opportunity to check that progress towards the committal hearing was still on track.

The barrister said papers on the case were being prepared.

"I understand that both defendants' solicitors will accept service of the papers to facilitate the progress of the PE, so that makes matters a lot easier," she added.

A lawyer representing Eleanor Donaldson questioned whether the PE could be brought forward to the June 12 hearing date. When Ms O'Kane indicated that would not be possible, he said he was content not to pursue that request.

Judge King then confirmed the preliminary enquiry would take place on July 3.

"We'll review on the 12th of June to make sure that we are on track for the PE on the third of July," he added.

A lawyer representing Jeffrey Donaldson then asked the judge to agree to what he described as an "uncontentious" amendment to his client's bail conditions.

He explained that a condition on the bail granted by police when Donaldson was arrested was that he was to have no unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16.

Meanwhile, after the hearing, Mr Donaldson's solicitor John McBurney confirmed that the Lagan Valley MP would not be standing for re-election, but indicated he intends to remains as an MP until the general election.

"I can indicate that it is not Jeffrey's intention, of course, to stand for re-election," he told RTE.

"He will be concentrating on the case and defending the charges. He is continuing as the MP at the present time. There's various matters to be dealt (with), constituency matters and administrative matters to do with his offices and so forth."