THE wedding reception for Jeffrey Donaldson and Eleanor Cousins at a quiet Co Down hotel almost four decades ago had a devoutly Christian atmosphere which looks deeply questionable in the light of subsequent events.

Witnesses recall a noticeably subdued gathering, with no wine served during lunch, and a bar which remained open in the background for a short time without any customers until the shutters came down early and staff were sent home.

There was no singing or dancing, and the post-dinner entertainment was instead provided by board games, including draughts, which were distributed around the tables until the last of the guests slipped away at around 6pm.

It of course later emerged that Donaldson very much enjoyed drinking and partying when he was well away from prying eyes and reports of his behaviour were unlikely to reach his home area.

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Ian Paisley told BBC Spotlight earlier this year the notorious story of how Donaldson was once so inebriated on a trade mission to Namibia in southern Africa that he “projectile vomited” on the mayor of Beijing.

The same programme set out how Donaldson drank copious amounts of vodka,........

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