Gavin Robinson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has stated that it is clear some former and current party members possessed information about the conduct of Jeffrey Donaldson that was not shared with the party. Robinson insisted the DUP was not formally made aware of any allegations against the former leader prior to his arrest in 2024.
Conviction and Calls for Transparency
Donaldson, 63, is in custody awaiting sentencing after a jury at Newry Crown Court unanimously found him guilty of 18 sexual offences, including one count of rape, against two women when they were children. The conviction has prompted growing calls from Stormont parties for a DUP-established review to provide full transparency over safeguarding issues.
Subsequent media reports, including a BBC Spotlight investigation, have raised questions about how much was known within the DUP about Donaldson’s wider conduct before his arrest. Spotlight reported that some senior DUP figures were aware of another woman who had raised concerns about Donaldson’s behaviour but did not wish to make a formal complaint. Former North Antrim MP Ian Paisley said he told Edwin Poots, then party leader and now Stormont Speaker, about the woman’s concerns.
Robinson’s Statement on Information Withheld
Speaking to the media at Stormont on Monday, Robinson said: “As a party we were not aware of allegations that have subsequently come to light. I may only have been leader of this party for a short period of time, but I am convinced that that is the case for a longer period of time.” He added: “It is clear there are a number of individuals, either former members of the Democratic Unionist Party, or current who did indicate publicly on Friday that they had information that they did not share, information that was not reported through our appropriate channels and therefore information about which we could do nothing formally.”
Robinson emphasised that such a situation cannot continue: “I cannot countenance a circumstance or situation where I allow that to be the case. That is why I and my deputy leader and senior party colleagues agreed on Friday to institute a review; a review that will be independent of our party, a review that will be conducted by an individual with impeccable credentials in child safeguarding, sexual exploitation. I want them to establish if members of my party had information which they did not share. I also want them to establish if there are people within my party who continue to hold information which they haven’t yet felt able to share.”
Political Reactions and Calls for Accountability
First Minister Michelle O’Neill, vice president of Sinn Féin, said there appeared to be a “culture of double standards” within the DUP. She urged the party to provide answers on who knew what about Donaldson’s conduct and called on Speaker Edwin Poots to clarify what steps he took when he became aware of a woman’s claim of exploitation by Donaldson. “We want the DUP to be forthcoming with all this information,” she said. “I think it’s really important that the Speaker steps forward and tells people very clearly what he knew. Did he fulfil his responsibilities in terms of safeguarding?”
SDLP Stormont leader Matthew O’Toole stated: “Clearly revelations over the past few days have prompted further questions which we need to answer here in the Northern Ireland Assembly. We need to understand from the DUP whether safeguarding processes were properly followed following complaints to senior DUP members.” TUV leader Jim Allister expressed a “low level of confidence” in previous internal DUP reviews, warning that a review could be “a stalling tactic such as we have seen in the past, self-serving and not revealing the truth” or “thoroughgoing, hopefully unfettered and capable of delivering the truth.”
Robinson confirmed he had not yet spoken to Mr Poots about the issues raised in the Spotlight programme. The DUP announced last week a “specialised and detailed independent review into a number of issues arising” following Donaldson’s conviction.
