Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has formally renounced his knighthood and resigned from the Privy Council, following his conviction for 18 sexual offences, including one count of rape, against two women when they were children.
Legal steps taken
Donaldson's solicitor, John McBurney, confirmed on Wednesday that his client had signed letters requesting both actions. In a statement, McBurney said: 'I have this afternoon issued a letter signed by Jeffrey Donaldson to the Cabinet Office indicating his request to renounce and forfeit his knighthood. I have also this afternoon issued a letter signed by Jeffrey Donaldson to the Privy Council office tendering his resignation from the Privy Council with immediate effect.'
The move came after calls from political leaders, including current DUP leader Gavin Robinson and Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows, for Donaldson to be stripped of the titles.
Conviction and sentencing
On Monday, a jury of seven men and five women at Newry Crown Court unanimously found Donaldson, 63, guilty of 18 sexual offences committed between 1985 and 2008. The two victims gave evidence against him during the trial, which Donaldson had denied. Judge Paul Ramsey told the former political leader he could expect a 'lengthy' prison term when sentenced.
Impact on sexual offence cases
Former appeal court judge Sir John Gillen described the trial as having 'struck a real blow' for sexual offence victims, praising the 'immense courage' of the victims. Sir John led a major review into how sexual offences are handled in Northern Ireland's courts, making 250 recommendations in 2019. He noted that around 86% of these have either been implemented or are about to be, describing a 'sea change' in the system.
Changes include the exclusion of the public from all serious sexual offence hearings, anonymity for defendants pre-charge, continued anonymity for complainants after death, and increased penalties for breach of anonymity.
Addressing rape myths
Concerns were raised by the charity Nexus, which supports sexual abuse victims, about questioning during the trial that they argued pushed 'rape myths' downplaying trauma. Sir John acknowledged that rape myths had been a 'real impediment' to justice in the past but highlighted improvements: 'Myths such as victims must cry out if they're really being raped, that victims must report to police right away, that handsome young men don't commit these sexual offences... have been challenged by the court system.' He noted that judges now instruct juries at the start and end of trials about typical victim reactions, such as not screaming out or reporting immediately.
Sir John added: 'There is a balance which has been established, and I think this trial shows it.'
