DUP leader Gavin Robinson has insisted he ordered an “unprecedented review” into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Donaldson’s time in the party. The review aims to establish what was known within the DUP about Donaldson’s conduct.
Review Leadership and Concerns
The review will be led by Jim Gamble, a former senior police officer and current head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) Centre. However, the Northern Ireland Survivor Council expressed concern because CEOP is also conducting a safeguarding review of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, to which Donaldson’s victims had previously disclosed abuse. They questioned whether one organisation can independently conduct both reviews.
Mr Robinson said he was “very pleased” that Mr Gamble and his company agreed to the review. “I said that it would be robust and that we would select an individual who has impeccable and unquestionable credentials in the safeguarding sphere,” he told BBC Northern Ireland’s Good Morning Ulster programme.
Robinson’s Defence of Independence
Pressed on concerns, Mr Robinson stated: “I have no questions about the independence of Jim Gamble. This is to satisfy not only myself but, in time, the general public about what occurred within our party, what was known, what could have been known and whether our safeguarding policies are correct or need to change.”
He emphasised that the review is unprecedented for any political party in Northern Ireland’s history. “There is no political party in Northern Ireland’s history that has commissioned like this,” he added.
Gamble’s Commitment
Speaking later, Mr Gamble vowed to leave “no stone unturned”. He respected the concerns expressed and wanted to allay them. His organisation has 37 full-time staff with multi-disciplinary backgrounds, including former senior police officers and legal and social care experts.
He described the terms of reference for the DUP and Presbyterian Church reviews as “very different”, with the latter being “much broader”. His team plans to meet with the Northern Ireland Survivor Council. “We’re not going to shy away from challenging fellow professionals or anyone who was in police in Northern Ireland or anywhere else,” he said.
Mr Gamble added: “If I didn’t believe Gavin Robinson wanted a warts and all review within the limited focus that we have, I wouldn’t be doing it. Our reputation means everything, so we’re not going to leave any stone unturned or provide any level of protection to protect the blushes of others.”
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson was convicted at Newry Crown Court last month of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.
