THE ULSTER UNIONIST Party (UUP) is to appoint an independent external organisation to provide a confidential route for anyone with information or concerns relating to Jeffrey Donaldson’s time in the party to come forward.

The move follows Donaldson’s conviction last month on 18 sexual offences, including one count of rape, committed against two women when they were children.

Donaldson was a member of the UUP from 1985 until 2003, before leaving to join the Democratic Unionist Party, where he later became leader.

In a statement today, the UUP said party leader Jon Burrows had commissioned a rapid review following Donaldson’s conviction to establish whether any concerns had been raised during his membership.

It said the review found that no formal or informal complaint about Donaldson had ever been raised with the party during that period, and that the UUP had never been contacted by the PSNI in relation to the offences.

However, the party said “the absence of a record does not mean there is nothing further to be established”.

“The rapid review was a first step, not the end of the matter,” the statement said.

Donaldson pictured at a UUP conference in 2003. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The independent organisation will provide a confidential process, entirely separate from the party, for anyone with information or concerns about Donaldson’s time in the UUP to come forward.

It will also be asked to review the party’s current safeguarding arrangements and recommend any improvements it considers necessary.

The UUP has also written to PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher offering its support for a public appeal encouraging any other potential victims to come forward.

The party repeated its call for a fully independent public inquiry with the powers to examine “what, if anything, was known” about Donaldson throughout his political career by political parties, police, security agencies and government.

“There are important lessons to be examined about vetting, safeguarding and public appointments,” the statement said.

“We repeat our call on the new Prime Minister and the Secretary of State to establish such an inquiry, and we will cooperate with it fully, including in respect of our own records.”

The party added that such an inquiry should also examine issues including vetting, safeguarding and public appointments.

“Public trust is built through openness and accountability. Where there are lessons to be learned, including for our own Party, we are committed to learning them,” the statement said.

Donaldson’s offences were committed between 1985 and 2008, spanning his time in both the UUP and the DUP.

The DUP has already commissioned an independent review into Donaldson’s time in that party, while the Northern Ireland Assembly has launched its own review into allegations of abuse or inappropriate behaviour connected to his time at Stormont.

Donaldson has lodged an appeal against his convictions. He is due to be sentenced in September.