dˈɑːnəli wʌz ɹˈeɪzd ɪn ɹˈʌðɜːɡlən, ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪɾᵻd æt ðə fˈɔːɹmɚ hˈæməltən ɐkˈædəmi ænd ɪz ɐ ɡɹˈædʒuːət ʌvðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv stɹˈæθklaɪd lˈɔː skˈuːl.
Donnelly was raised in Rutherglen, educated at the former Hamilton Academy and is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde Law School.