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THE DUP HAS appointed a former police officer to lead its “focused, independent review” of what was known about the behaviour of the party’s former leader Jeffrey Donaldson, who was recently convicted of rape and other sex offences.
The party has said it is clear “beyond doubt” that Donaldson “abused various positions of power over many years from 1985 onwards and covered up his vile and manipulative behaviour”.
Jim Gamble, a former RUC officer and head of the UK’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) Centre, will lead the review.
Donaldson was last month convicted at Newry Crown Court of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to abuse of two women when they were children.
Since his conviction, some media reports have raised questions regarding how much was known within the DUP about Donaldson’s wider conduct in the period before his 2024 arrest.
A BBC NI Spotlight investigation reported that some senior DUP figures were aware of another woman, who was not involved in the recent court case, who had raised concerns about Donaldson’s behaviour but had not wished to make a formal complaint.
Former DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr said that five years ago, he was approached by a young woman who said she had been “exploited” by Donaldson.
“She wasn’t a teenager, but she was a young woman,” said Paisley.
Paisley described her as a “victim” in a text to another politician during the DUP leadership contest between Donaldson and Edwin Poots in 2021.
Speaking on Spotlight, Paisley remarked: “And she said ‘Jeffrey Donaldson exploited me, that man used me and I want you to do everything in your power to make sure he is not the leader of the DUP.”
Paisley further remarked that this was not “some minor issue” and that it was “deeply unsettling”.
Questions have also been raised around whether there was an awareness that Donaldson was allegedly engaged in behaviour in his private life that, although legal, was at odds with positions he adopted publicly.
Those include claims Donaldson was drunk on diplomatic trips and that he visited a sauna in London that marketed itself as a meeting place for gay men in 2006 – despite him referring to homosexuality as “sinful” in the same year.
Several other political parties have said the DUP has questions to answer about what was known internally about Donaldson’s conduct.
In a staement today, the DUP said it “never received any report or complaint regarding improper behaviour or criminal behaviour,” but that “it is now clear, beyond doubt, that Jeffrey Donaldson abused various positions of power over many years from 1985 onwards and covered up his vile and manipulative behaviour”.
Current DUP leader Gavin Robinson had previously confirmed he would commission the review to investigate issues raised since Donaldson was convicted.
The DUP has said the review will be conducted entirely independently of the party.
The party said it “acted immediately when Jeffrey Donaldson was first charged”.
“We stand with the victims of his abuse and we salute their bravery and courage for speaking out.
“As a consequence of his actions, Jeffrey Donaldson must now feel the full force of the law.
“He stands guilty of abusing and betraying the trust placed in him by many people over the years, including good honest colleagues in both our party and the Ulster Unionist Party as well as the wider community. ”
With reporting from Press Association
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