A letter has been sent to the Honours Forfeiture Committee seeking that Sir Jeffrey Donaldson be immediately stripped of his Knighthood following today’s conviction of 18 counts of historical sex abuse offences.
The Ulster Unionist Party Leader, MLA Jon Burrows penned the letter upon return of a jury’s verdict in Newry Crown Court which found the former DUP Leader guilty of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency on two women when they were children.
His wife, Eleanor Donaldson was also found guilty of aiding and abetting the offences.
‘Guilty’: Jeffrey Donaldson remanded into custody after being convicted of sex offences against children
The letter written by Jon Burrows refers to Donaldson as a “convicted paedophile” and calls his crimes “gravely serious in nature”.
As such, the MLA requests he immediately be stripped of his title to ensure the honours system is not “brought into disrepute”.
Mr Burrows adds: “In Northern Ireland, it is important that we send a strong message that sexual abuse against women and girls will not be tolerated.”
In a statement accompanying the request, the MLA said: “Today a jury has found Jeffrey Donaldson guilty on all charges. These are among the gravest crimes imaginable, committed against the most vulnerable by a man who spent his career demanding the public’s trust.
“I want to pay tribute to the brave women who gave evidence against Jeffrey Donaldson about the abuse he inflicted on them; they and their families are in my thoughts in the days ahead. Their ordeal has been unimaginable.
“The fact that Donaldson showed no remorse and called his victims liars is reprehensible.
“There is no rank, no title, and no past office that places anyone above the law. Jeffrey Donaldson abused his power and betrayed everyone who ever placed their faith in him.
“He must now be stripped of all state honours without delay: no honour of the state should remain in the hands of a man convicted of crimes of this nature.
“This is a moment for humility and for an unflinching commitment to survivors of abuse. No one is too powerful to be held to account.”
TUV leader Jim Allister, within minutes of the guilty verdicts being announced, confirmed he has today tabled a similar notice of motion in the House of Commons, which read: “That this House calls on the Prime Minister to recommend to His Majesty The King that the Knighthood of Jeffrey Donaldson, the former MP for Lagan Valley, be removed, following his criminal convictions for sexual offences.”
Said Mr Allister: “The conviction of Jeffrey Donaldson for multiple sexual offences is truly shocking.
“Primarily my thoughts are with his victims, but for whose immense courage and honesty, Donaldson would have continued to play out the role of ‘statesman’. Now, he stands exposed as a pedophile.
“Donaldson must be stripped of his knighthood forthwith.”
Ulster Unionist Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie said it was important the focus “remains on the victims, not solely on the perpetrator and the gravity of his crimes”.
He added: “In this case, two brave women came forward and gave evidence that must have been extremely difficult to deliver. That evidence has now secured Donaldson’s conviction and established the case against Eleanor Donaldson. Throughout the process, they faced accusations of being mistaken, inconsistent, or even untruthful. Yet their clarity and consistency could not be overcome by the defence.
“At no stage did Jeffrey Donaldson show remorse for his actions. Instead, he compartmentalised his behaviour, presenting himself publicly as a figure of integrity while concealing the reality of his crimes.
“Ultimately, sentencing now rests with the judiciary, which will consider the case impartially, but with full awareness that this was a man in a position of authority and privilege, with access to the highest levels of government in Stormont and Westminster. He demanded respect while hiding a dark secret, one his victims were forced to carry for years.
“When confronted, he chose denial over accountability. For that, and for the seriousness of his offences, it is right that the court reflects the gravity of his actions in any custodial sentence imposed.”
