The DUP thread

[Ethan Tremblay]

@David McKeown
If she's not fit to enter a plea, never mind stand trial, what happens to the charges against her??

They are setting it up so *if* Elaine Donaldson gets a ruling that she's unfit to plead so at trial, Jeffrey can claim his (now absent) wife was to blame as the main instigator and he acted under duress from her. She provides a statement confirming this without having to attend court.
Jeff gets a light sentence and she gets to walk as under medical care.

If Paddy Power accepts odds, put your house on this outcome.

The her providing a statement without attending trial would be very difficult. Also duress of circumstance is a defence not mitigation.

So I wouldn't recommend backing this particular long shot

Legally, what is the angle they are playing at here (bar actually being "sick" of course).  Are they just kicking the can down the road? Is that all they hope to get out of this if she is found capable of standing trial?

[David McKeown]

@David McKeown
If she's not fit to enter a plea, never mind stand trial, what happens to the charges against her??

They are setting it up so *if* Elaine Donaldson gets a ruling that she's unfit to plead so at trial, Jeffrey can claim his (now absent) wife was to blame as the main instigator and he acted under duress from her. She provides a statement confirming this without having to attend court.
Jeff gets a light sentence and she gets to walk as under medical care.

If Paddy Power accepts odds, put your house on this outcome.

The her providing a statement without attending trial would be very difficult. Also duress of circumstance is a defence not mitigation.

So I wouldn't recommend backing this particular long shot

Legally, what is the angle they are playing at here (bar actually being "sick" of course).  Are they just kicking the can down the road? Is that all they hope to get out of this if she is found capable of standing trial?

I don't think there's any playing here at all. The legal team obviously have concerns over her fitness, at least one expert clearly shares those concerns.

It advantages no one for her to be deemed unfit to plead. Hospital Orders are not to be sniffed at.

[Armagh4sam2024]

@David McKeown
If she's not fit to enter a plea, never mind stand trial, what happens to the charges against her??

They are setting it up so *if* Elaine Donaldson gets a ruling that she's unfit to plead so at trial, Jeffrey can claim his (now absent) wife was to blame as the main instigator and he acted under duress from her. She provides a statement confirming this without having to attend court.
Jeff gets a light sentence and she gets to walk as under medical care.

If Paddy Power accepts odds, put your house on this outcome.

The her providing a statement without attending trial would be very difficult. Also duress of circumstance is a defence not mitigation.

So I wouldn't recommend backing this particular long shot

Legally, what is the angle they are playing at here (bar actually being "sick" of course).  Are they just kicking the can down the road? Is that all they hope to get out of this if she is found capable of standing trial?

I don't think there's any playing here at all. The legal team obviously have concerns over her fitness, at least one expert clearly shares those concerns.

It advantages no one for her to be deemed unfit to plead. Hospital Orders are not to be sniffed at.

Wake up and smell the coffee David. They are playing the same game as Iris Robinson...

[David McKeown]

@David McKeown
If she's not fit to enter a plea, never mind stand trial, what happens to the charges against her??

They are setting it up so *if* Elaine Donaldson gets a ruling that she's unfit to plead so at trial, Jeffrey can claim his (now absent) wife was to blame as the main instigator and he acted under duress from her. She provides a statement confirming this without having to attend court.
Jeff gets a light sentence and she gets to walk as under medical care.

If Paddy Power accepts odds, put your house on this outcome.

The her providing a statement without attending trial would be very difficult. Also duress of circumstance is a defence not mitigation.

So I wouldn't recommend backing this particular long shot

Legally, what is the angle they are playing at here (bar actually being "sick" of course).  Are they just kicking the can down the road? Is that all they hope to get out of this if she is found capable of standing trial?

I don't think there's any playing here at all. The legal team obviously have concerns over her fitness, at least one expert clearly shares those concerns.

It advantages no one for her to be deemed unfit to plead. Hospital Orders are not to be sniffed at.

Wake up and smell the coffee David. They are playing the same game as Iris Robinson...

Is it just the defence legal team or is the prosecution in on it too?  Did they hoodwink the RQIA appointed doctor as well?  What about the Judge? Oh and for what gain? So that she can have a finding of fact against her without really being able to challenge the evidence and then have to spend considerable time under a hospital order?

[DaleCooper]

Its not that hard to believe someone in public arena could have a serious breakdown being ACCUSED of horrible things. Particularly if innocent, which is the case at the moment until proven guilty.


Mental health is routinely used as an excuse but not all the DUP are emotionless psychopaths.

[Munchie]

It's not hard to believe that the mental health card is the most over played card in society. It is akin to the gambling problem card when the local treasurer is caught stealing thousands.

[Rossfan]

Must be great to be perfect and know it all

[RedHand88]

@David McKeown
If she's not fit to enter a plea, never mind stand trial, what happens to the charges against her??

They are setting it up so *if* Elaine Donaldson gets a ruling that she's unfit to plead so at trial, Jeffrey can claim his (now absent) wife was to blame as the main instigator and he acted under duress from her. She provides a statement confirming this without having to attend court.
Jeff gets a light sentence and she gets to walk as under medical care.

If Paddy Power accepts odds, put your house on this outcome.

The her providing a statement without attending trial would be very difficult. Also duress of circumstance is a defence not mitigation.

So I wouldn't recommend backing this particular long shot

Legally, what is the angle they are playing at here (bar actually being "sick" of course).  Are they just kicking the can down the road? Is that all they hope to get out of this if she is found capable of standing trial?

I don't think there's any playing here at all. The legal team obviously have concerns over her fitness, at least one expert clearly shares those concerns.

It advantages no one for her to be deemed unfit to plead. Hospital Orders are not to be sniffed at.

Wake up and smell the coffee David. They are playing the same game as Iris Robinson...

Is it just the defence legal team or is the prosecution in on it too?  Did they hoodwink the RQIA appointed doctor as well?  What about the Judge? Oh and for what gain? So that she can have a finding of fact against her without really being able to challenge the evidence and then have to spend considerable time under a hospital order?

Does a finding of fact come with prison time? Would the defendant be in some sort of institution for severe mental health issues if this was the reason there was no trial?

[David McKeown]

@David McKeown
If she's not fit to enter a plea, never mind stand trial, what happens to the charges against her??

They are setting it up so *if* Elaine Donaldson gets a ruling that she's unfit to plead so at trial, Jeffrey can claim his (now absent) wife was to blame as the main instigator and he acted under duress from her. She provides a statement confirming this without having to attend court.
Jeff gets a light sentence and she gets to walk as under medical care.

If Paddy Power accepts odds, put your house on this outcome.

The her providing a statement without attending trial would be very difficult. Also duress of circumstance is a defence not mitigation.

So I wouldn't recommend backing this particular long shot

Legally, what is the angle they are playing at here (bar actually being "sick" of course).  Are they just kicking the can down the road? Is that all they hope to get out of this if she is found capable of standing trial?

I don't think there's any playing here at all. The legal team obviously have concerns over her fitness, at least one expert clearly shares those concerns.

It advantages no one for her to be deemed unfit to plead. Hospital Orders are not to be sniffed at.

Wake up and smell the coffee David. They are playing the same game as Iris Robinson...

Is it just the defence legal team or is the prosecution in on it too?  Did they hoodwink the RQIA appointed doctor as well?  What about the Judge? Oh and for what gain? So that she can have a finding of fact against her without really being able to challenge the evidence and then have to spend considerable time under a hospital order?

Does a finding of fact come with prison time? Would the defendant be in some sort of institution for severe mental health issues if this was the reason there was no trial?

It comes with one of three possible outcomes. Given the seriousness of the charges if there is a finding of fact that an individual did the act alleged then a hospital order is the most likely outcome.  A hospital order is a form of detention and is a direct alternative to prison. Decisions on on detention and release/leave etc are made by MHRT but restrictions on same can and usually are made by the court. It's certainly not an easy alternative