DUP condemns Donaldson as ‘wicked deceiver’ following child sex convictions
Stormont assembly leaders denounce Jeffrey Donaldson’s conduct as a “double and duplicitous life” while political figures across the Irish border call for his knighthood to be stripped.
The Democratic Unionist Party has formally denounced its former leader, Jeffrey Donaldson, describing him as a “wicked deceiver” and an “evil sexual predator” following his conviction for child sexual offences. Leaders at the Stormont assembly sought to distance the party from Donaldson, describing his conduct as a “double and duplicitous life” concealed behind a facade of respectability.
Donaldson, 63, was convicted at Newry Crown Court after a four-week trial of 18 offences, including rape, indecent assault and gross indecency against two victims who were children more than 30 years ago. He is currently serving time at Maghaberry prison in County Antrim, with speculation that he may be transferred to a prison in Great Britain to maintain a lower profile.
DUP deputy leader Michelle McIlveen told the assembly that Donaldson had “abused positions of trust and power over many years” and led a “double and duplicitous life”. Assembly member Jonathan Buckley described Donaldson as a “fraudulent monster” who had hoodwinked Northern Ireland. Former DUP leader Edwin Poots, now Speaker of the Stormont assembly, stated he had found Donaldson out on lies “too many times over many years” but could not have imagined the depravity of the crimes.
The trial judge, Paul Ramsey, indicated that a “lengthy” prison sentence is inevitable. Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor, 60, was found by a jury to have aided and abetted the offences but was deemed unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds. She faced a trial of the facts, which tests the evidence but does not result in a criminal conviction.
Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned Donaldson for compounding the “horrific” crimes by denying them and forcing the victims to testify. The conviction has triggered widespread calls to strip Donaldson of his knighthood and led to his expulsion from the Orange Order. Analysts noted the DUP is facing a battle to dissociate itself from Donaldson before local and assembly elections next year.