The Northern Ireland Assembly has begun a review into alleged abuse or inappropriate behaviour associated with Jeffrey Donaldson at Stormont. Former DUP leader Donaldson was last month convicted at Newry Crown Court of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.
Review Initiated by Speaker
On June 29, Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots asked the clerk and chief executive of the Assembly to conduct a review into any allegations of “any abuse or inappropriate behaviour by Jeffrey Donaldson” at Parliament Buildings in Belfast. The Assembly announced on Friday that it had put in place arrangements to conduct the review.
Scope and Process
The review will be conducted by the director of parliamentary services, who serves as the senior Assembly safeguarding officer, guided by experts in trauma-informed practices, and will report directly to the clerk and chief executive. It will allow any member or former member, as well as staff and other users of Parliament Buildings, to bring forward any incidents of abuse they directly experienced.
The review aims to establish if the Assembly Commission holds any information about abuse or inappropriate behaviour while Donaldson was a member of the Assembly from 2003 to 2010, or while he was a visitor to Parliament Buildings as an MP. It will be carried out from July 10 until August 21, with a report due by August 28. The review is also designed to draw the clerk’s attention to any matters that “may require further appropriate investigation or referral to the PSNI or other statutory agencies”.
Donaldson Removed from Privy Council
Earlier, it was confirmed that Donaldson has been removed from the Privy Council, a body of senior advisers to the King. In a statement from the clerk of the Privy Council, it was confirmed that Donaldson had asked for his name to be removed from the list of members last month. The clerk said: “Now, therefore, by and with the advice of His Majesty’s Privy Council, it is hereby ordered that the name of the said Jeffrey Donaldson be removed from the list of Members of His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.”
Renunciation of Knighthood
Donaldson has also moved to renounce his knighthood – a process which can occur through a recommendation of the Forfeiture Committee, convened under the Cabinet Office. The body’s recommendations for forfeiture are submitted through the Prime Minister to the King.
DUP’s Independent Review
Earlier this week, the DUP revealed details of its own “focused, independent review” commissioned to establish what was known within the party about Donaldson’s conduct. The review will be led by Jim Gamble, a former RUC officer and head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) Centre.
