On Monday, the jury of five women and seven men heard that Donaldson had been interviewed by police for four and a half hours following his arrest in the early hours of March 28 2024.

Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told police he wasn’t doing “anything untoward” in an incident where an alleged victim claimed he used a light to stare at her.

The trial over historical sexual offences at Newry Crown Court is being played audio recordings of the former MP’s interviews with detectives following his arrest in 2024.

Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.

The charges include one count of rape and allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a time period between 1985 and 2008 involving two alleged victims.

Complainant A and B have both previously given evidence at the sexual offences trial.

Eleanor Donaldson, 60, from Dublinhill Road, Dromore, Co Down, denies several charges of aiding and abetting her husband’s alleged offending. She is facing a trial of the facts and is not participating in the proceedings.

On Monday, the jury of five women and seven men heard that Donaldson had been interviewed by police for four and a half hours following his arrest in the early hours of March 28 2024.

Three hours of the interviews will be played to the jury.

Donaldson, wearing a blue suit, sat in the dock at the back of the court while the audio of the first interview was played.

The interview at Antrim PSNI station began with the former DUP leader confirming his name and date of birth.

Asked at the beginning if he wanted to say anything in relation to the alleged offences, he replied “No.”

The court has previously heard about an allegation that Donaldson had “perched” over the top of Complainant A when she was a child, using a light to look at her “private parts”.

In his police interview, Donaldson raised the incident, telling detectives he believed he had “startled” the girl.

He said: “It obviously frightened her. She thought that I was shining a light at her.”

“You know, I didn’t have a light. You know, I wasn’t doing anything untoward.”

He added: “She clearly still has a concern about that.”

He said “at no stage” had Complainant A ever claimed “I touched her or did anything inappropriate on that occasion”.

In the interview, Donaldson said there had been “good times and difficult times” in his marriage to Eleanor Donaldson.

He said his work as a politician had “put a strain on our marriage”.

Donaldson said: “The role I hold is all-consuming, it takes up a lot of time.”

The trial continues.

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Henry Slade’s booming kick into the corner in the 2017 Premiership semi-final got plenty of airtime in the build-up to the latest instalment of Saracens and Exeter’s rivalry.

That monster touch-finder set up a final-minute match-winning try from Sam Simmonds.

Nearly a decade on, Slade’s influence on Saturday’s 32-12 victory, which clinched a play-off spot for the Chiefs at Sarries’ expense, was still key.

The 33-year-old purred around out wide, scored the try that started the hosts’ second-half blitz and lassoed Rotimi Segun with a crucial try-saving tackle before the break.

Slade, who won the most recent of his 74 England caps against Argentina in November, last month told the For the Love of Rugby podcast he was “frustrated and disappointed” not to play a single minute in England’s floundering Six Nations campaign.

With Ollie Lawrence and Max Ojomoh seemingly out of favour, Slade’s form is edging him back towards the Test spotlight.

Fraser Dingwall, Seb Atkinson and Benhard Janse van Rensburg were the other specialist centres called up to an England training camp last month. None are clearly ahead of the Exeter man.

“If I was picking an England team, I’d have Henry Slade in there,” said Exeter attack coach Dave Walder.

“I see him every day and I know what he’s capable of. He’s doing everything you would expect of a player who’s not being picked by playing well week-in, week-out on both sides of the ball.”

“You don’t realise how much you miss something until you don’t have it,” Slade told BBC Radio 5 Live at Sandy Park.

“Maybe we took it for granted all those years ago, it is very special to have it back. I feel good, I’m in the shape of my life, still feeling fresh and good.”

Slade was talking about a play-off spot. He might have easily been talking about a starting Test shirt.

EXCLUSIVE: Missing British toddler Cheryl Grimmer disappeared in Sydney, Australia more than 50 years ago, and her heartbroken brother told the Mirror that they still want justice

The brother of tragic toddler Cheryl Grimmer – abducted in Australia more than 50 years ago – spoke to the Mirror during a visit to London and insisted: “We just want justice for my little sister.”

Paul Grimmer was speaking ahead of a new hearing which is starting in Australia on Wednesday. He was visiting family in the UK and described to the Mirror how they were looking forward to having their voices heard at the parliamentary inquiry into missing people, which is taking place in Sydney.

Paul, wife Linda and cousin Michael were angry that the man who admitted killing Cheryl was still walking free on a legal technicality. He can only be identified as “Mercury”. They spoke emotionally outside St Paul’s Cathedral about Cheryl’s disappearance from Fairy Meadow beach near Sydney in 1970.

Paul, who lives in Queensland, said: “We’ve had a hard journey but we are hoping we will get justice for Cheryl. We will be at the hearing and putting our recommendations forward. We will be reading our impact statements – and how it has affected us and why we believe there should be changes in the law.”

The inquiry will examine how Police and the authorities handle missing people cases and what can be done to improve investigations.

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Linda spoke of the devastating impact three-year-old Cheryl’s disappearance in 1970 – just after the family had moved Down Under from Bristol – has had on the family. She said: “We just all want justice.” She said “it’s been challenging and hard for the family”

Michael added: “As a family we welcome the Parliamentary Inquiry into unsolved murders and missing persons cases that starts later this week. For years now, our concerns about how Cheryl’s case has been handled have not in our view been properly addressed by New South Wales authorities.

“This Inquiry gives us the opportunity to voice our concerns, for them to be properly considered and for changes to be implemented to ensure that no family has to go through what we have endured over the past 56 years.

“Never again should a detailed and corroborated confession to child abduction and murder be sat hidden in police records for decades, with the victim’s family not told of its existence, with the author of that confession not even put in a line-up to see whether witnesses present on the day recognised him.

“To this day, more than 56 years after Cheryl went missing, there has been no court ruling on whether that confession is true or not. Cheryl deserves better than this and so does the community. There needs to be accountability and there needs to be change.”

Cheryl went missing after a day at the beach – her body was never found despite a lengthy search involving hundreds of police officers and volunteers.

A 17-year-old – who was born in Manchester – confessed to killing her but because there was no lawyer, or adult, present during the interview a judge ruled he could not be charged.

He is still living in Australia and refusing to help police with their inquiries.

Firefighters were called out after the vehicle burst into flames on the B6279 Tornado Way at about 12.15am.

The car set alight on Tornado Way in the morning of June 6 (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

No one is said to have been injured and the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 12.14am on Saturday (June 6), we received a report of a vehicle fire on Tornado Way, Darlington.

“One crew from Darlington attended to put out the fire and left the scene at 12.40am.”

A burnt out car is left on the side of Tornado Way in Darlington after it burst into flames in the early hours of Saturday morning (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

A burnt out car is left on the side of Tornado Way in Darlington after it burst into flames in the early hours of Saturday morning (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The car set alight on Tornado Way in the morning of June 6 (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

A Durham Police spokesperson added: “We were called to reports of a vehicle fire on the B6279 just after midnight on June 6.

“The fire service put out the fire, which is not thought to be suspicious.”

The fraudster will be sentenced later this month after pleading guilty to embezzlement.

Corrupt Peter Murrell has been moved to cushy HMP Dumfries after getting “dogs abuse” at Edinburgh’s tough Saughton nick.

It has been reported that the SNP crook has been moved out of HMP Edinburgh in recent days.

Murrell is expected to be given a jail sentence this month after pleading guilty to nicking over £400,000 from the SNP.

Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband is on remand after admitting to a crime spree spanning twelve years.

The Wings over Scotland website reported he is now behind bars in Dumfries.

A source told the Scottish Sun: “He is getting dog’s abuse 24/7. It appears that the grim reality of prison is very different to how he thought it would be. He should have taken up the offer of being kept separate from normal cons.

“Now he can’t wait to get moved to another nick. A lot of the taunts are about his wife, which isn’t nice.”

“Being in jail is tough for anyone, no matter what people might think.

“But for someone like Murrell, who has been used to a very comfortable life outside, it will be a nightmare.”

Other sources have claimed Sturgeon, who spoke of her betrayal at his crimes, has no plans to visit him behind bars.

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A report presented to the Cambuslang and Rutherglen Area Committee on June 3 highlighted how schools are continuing to embed participatory budgeting (PB) as part of efforts to tackle inequality and improve educational experiences for young people.

Schools across Cambuslang and Rutherglen have allocated more than £121,000 to projects chosen through participatory budgeting, giving pupils and families a direct say in how education funding is spent.

A report presented to the Cambuslang and Rutherglen Area Committee on June 3 highlighted how schools are continuing to embed participatory budgeting (PB) as part of efforts to tackle inequality and improve educational experiences for young people.

Participatory budgeting allows school communities to influence spending decisions by consulting with pupils, parents and staff before voting on projects and initiatives. In South Lanarkshire, schools are required to allocate at least five per cent of their Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) through the process.

During the 2025/26 academic session, schools across the Cambuslang and Rutherglen area committed a combined £121,473.09 to participatory budgeting activity. This represents around seven per cent of the area’s total Pupil Equity Funding allocation of £1.82 million, exceeding the minimum requirement.

The largest allocation came from the Cathkin learning community, which dedicated more than £52,000 to participatory budgeting projects. Schools within the Stonelaw and Trinity learning communities allocated more than £41,000 and £27,000.

Projects selected by pupils and school communities cover a wide range of initiatives, including educational excursions, playground improvements, outdoor learning spaces, sports coaching, creative workshops, digital learning resources and additional support for school trips.

Among the schools allocating funding were Cathkin High School, which committed more than £10,000 towards educational excursions, and St Bride’s Primary School, which allocated £6300 towards a whole-school trip. Cairns Primary School directed over £13,000 towards developing its school hub and outdoor garden area.

The report also highlighted the work of St Mark’s Primary School as an example of good practice. The school has integrated participatory budgeting into its wider Cost of the School Day programme, which aims to reduce financial barriers faced by families.

Through its Cost of the School Day Committee, pupils and families help identify challenges affecting participation in school life and contribute to how funding should be used. The school also provides support through subsidised activities, clothing initiatives, learning resources and free school events.

Education officers said participatory budgeting is now fully embedded within South Lanarkshire schools and will continue to form part of annual Pupil Equity Funding planning. Schools will continue to allocate at least five per cent of their funding through participatory budgeting, with additional training planned for staff during the 2027/27 session.

The initiative is intended to ensure that funding decisions are shaped by those most affected by them, while giving young people practical experience of decision making.

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Jacob Smith suffered extensive burns, and is now waiting for a skin graft

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A McDonald’s worker who allegedly had hot oil thrown over him by a colleague suffered second-degree burns over a fifth of his body.

Jacob Smith, 20, was working at a Northern California McDonald’s on Saturday when he was allegedly attacked by another employee who left the restaurant before police arrived, according to ABC 10, CBS News and KCRA.

Investigators also stated that the alleged attacker, identified as 23-year-old Jalani Bluett, was later found and arrested by the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office shortly after midnight local time. Before Bluett was found, the sheriff’s office asked for the public’s assistance in locating the man as he was “considered at risk due to a diagnosis and vulnerabilities.”

During Bluett’s arraignment on June 6, Bullard told ABC 10 that Bluett was “held to answer on assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem, serious felony assault resulting in great bodily injury, and he was held to answer on that at the arraignment, and currently he is being held in Sutter County with no bail.”

After Jacob sustained burns to the side of his face, neck, right arm and back, his mother, Amber Smith, told KCRA that her son was preparing to end his shift when he was suddenly assaulted and given second-degree burns over 22 percent of his body, reports the Mirror.

“He was in the office getting ready to count the money when he saw out of the corner of his eye something, and he just turned, and the oil was just thrown on him,” Amber alleged.

“The pain he’s experiencing is so excruciating that they can’t give him a level of pain medicine outside of the ICU.”

The Mirror has approached McDonald’s for comment.

In a GoFundMe created to support Jacob in his recovery, Amber shared that he is scheduled for skin graft surgery later this week. She also included a message from her son, who thanked God for bringing out “the best possible result in the worst situation.”

“As much as I want to be angry, or want to hate people and be scared of people, it’s just so hard to be when I have so many people showing their love for me,” Jacob wrote.

“I’m not sad, and I’m not angry, and the pain doesn’t cause me grief because I know it’s necessary to heal. I’m so thankful for everybody.”

“Thank you to God for saving my eye and giving me awesome family and friends,” he added.

You can donate to the GoFundMe page by clicking here.

British Transport Police officers were called to Blackrod station at 2.20pm on Sunday, June 7, following reports of a casualty on the tracks.

Paramedics also attended, but the individual was pronounced dead at the scene.

The force says that the incident is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called to the line near Blackrod at 2.19pm on Sunday, June 7, following reports of a casualty on the tracks.

“Paramedics also attended; however, sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The incident is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

Northern Rail cancelled services between Bolton and Preston until 4.15pm to allow emergency services to respond to the incident.

He’s been announced as the host of a new two-part documentary for ITV

Freddie Flintoff is set to front a new documentary for ITV, in which he’ll travel across the UK to meet young people living with Tourette’s.

The two-part series, currently titled Freddie Flintoff: Understanding Tourette’s, has been inspired by the highly acclaimed BAFTA-winning film, I Swear, which follows the true story of John Davidson, a young boy in 1980s Scotland affected by Tourette’s Syndrome.

In the programme, Freddie sets out to understand what life is like for individuals and their families living with Tourette’s, and challenges the misconceptions and stigma around this often-misunderstood condition, ITV has said.

Spending time with young people who are at different stages of their journey, from those who are trying to get a diagnosis to those who have been living with the condition for many years.

ITV continued to say in a press release: “Produced by 72 Films, working in partnership with the charity Tourettes Action, the highly emotive series will reflect varied experiences of Tourette’s – from more visible tics to those that are less obvious but no less challenging, revealing aspects rarely seen on screen and challenging the idea that it is simply a condition defined by swearing.

“Its effects are much more fundamental and varied. The series looks beyond headlines and assumptions to offer a clearer, more truthful understanding of the condition – bringing audiences closer to the reality of living with it and the practical ways those living with it can overcome many of its challenges.

Freddie shared a statement in which he referenced how his life-changing accident, which took place when filming Top Gear back in December 2022, had an effect on him, and why he wants to help this cause.

He said: “Working with young people has always been a huge passion point for me, and Tourette’s is a condition that primarily starts in childhood. The thought of kids isolating themselves and facing such strong stigma both breaks my heart and resonates deeply with me – after my accident, I wouldn’t leave my own house, and that’s a feeling I would never want anyone, let alone a kid, to go through.

“The events at the BAFTA Film Awards and the online discourse that followed only emphasised how much stigma is still out there – whilst the film made such positive strides for this community, these secondary responses seemed to set those advances right back. If there is any way I can help those affected, working directly with them and experts in the field, and also help spread awareness and push for change, then that is what I’ll do. I hope this community will bring the change and understanding they deserve.”

Tourettes Action CEO Emma McNally added: “We’re looking forward to working with Freddie and ITV on this important new series and helping to ensure that the voices of the Tourette’s community are heard authentically. Too often in the past, portrayals of Tourette’s have focused on shock factor or humour, which can reinforce misunderstanding and stigma.

“By showing the different ways Tourette’s can present, this series has the potential to help all members of the community feel seen, supported and validated, regardless of how their Tourette’s affects them.”