Stormont parties demand 'full transparency' over DUP safeguarding

Stormont parties demand 'full transparency' over DUP safeguarding

By

Political correspondent, BBC News NI

Updated 1 hour ago

Political parties at Stormont have called for "full transparency" from the DUP around its safeguarding processes in the wake of Jeffrey Donaldson's conviction for child sex offences.

The former DUP leader was convicted last week of 18 counts of sex abuse, including one count of rape, committed against two women when they were children.

A BBC Spotlight investigation has since revealed that two senior DUP members were made aware of different allegations against Donaldson five years ago, when a young woman said she had been "exploited" by him.

On Friday, the DUP said it was in the process of commissioning an independent review into the issues.

Sinn Féin has said it intends to submit questions to the assembly on Monday, in relation to the claims aired on the BBC.

It is the last scheduled week of assembly business before summer recess.

Sinn Féin assembly member (MLA) Deirdre Hargey said the programme raised "significant questions" around safeguarding within the DUP.

"Senior members, past and present, within the DUP have made public commentary which has further damaged public confidence," she added.

"Sinn Féin will be submitting questions in the assembly on Monday as the public needs full transparency and accountability."

Alliance leader Naomi Long said there must be a "fully independent and external" investigation, in order to restore public confidence.

"The allegations that senior figures within the DUP, and others in positions of trust, were aware of serious concerns about Jeffrey Donaldson before he became party leader are profoundly serious," said Long.

"There must be full transparency around who knew what and when, what action was taken, and whether appropriate safeguarding procedures were followed.

"Public confidence cannot be restored through internal party processes alone. Only a genuinely independent investigation can establish the full facts."

'DUP in crisis'

Wallace Thompson, a founding member of the DUP, said he thinks Ian Paisley would be turning in his grave at the revelations about the "immoral" life that Donaldson lived.

"For a party founded upon high moral standards, the challenge was all the greater that you make sure you maintain those high moral standards," he said.

"Dr Paisley would be turning in his grave at what is happening now because it was founded on strong moral principles."

The former DUP special advisor and evangelical Protestant added that it will be a "monumental task" for the party to deal with the fallout.

"I must stress I have no axe to grind with the party at all. But I do believe in all honesty that the party is in crisis," he told BBC's Good Morning Ulster radio programme.

"I hope they do manage to sort it out but it is going to be very difficult, it is almost like a nuclear explosion in political terms."

Spotlight: Politician, Predator and Paedophile

Inside the double life of Jeffrey Donaldson: Political stardom hiding child sex abuse.

Watch now on iPlayer

BBC Spotlight reported that not long before Donaldson became DUP leader in 2021, the then-North Antrim MP Ian Paisley said he was approached by a young woman who said she had been exploited by Donaldson and that he should not be allowed to lead the party.

Paisley said the woman did not want to make a formal complaint but he said he told Edwin Poots, when he was elected leader.

Paisley described her as a "victim" in a text to another politician during the DUP leadership contest between Donaldson and Poots in 2021.

In response, Poots told Spotlight: "We observed at all times the wishes of the young woman."

Long has called on Poots, now the Speaker in the Northern Ireland Assembly, to "provide a full account" of what he knew.

"As holder of one of the highest political offices in Northern Ireland, in which the public and Assembly must have full confidence, it's imperative that Edwin Poots provides a full account of his knowledge of these matters."

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said the wave of revelations in the wake of the conviction had left the public "shocked, disgusted and must mark a watershed moment in Northern Ireland politics".

"Media reporting of widespread knowledge of Donaldson's private life exposes nauseating hypocrisy and a prioritising of electoral advantage over safeguarding and accountability.

"This raises profound questions about the motivations behind decisions that delayed reforms which could have made a real difference to people's lives."

The DUP said it acted swiftly when Donaldson was first charged in 2024 and that its current leadership are deeply concerned by allegations that have surfaced in recent days.

"As a party we believe in the rule of law and that criminal proceedings must take their full course. Justice has been served with the guilty verdicts against him," a spokesperson said.

The party leader Gavin Robinson, deputy leader Michelle McIlveen and party chairman are deeply concerned by allegations that have surfaced in recent days relating to inappropriate behaviour on behalf of Jeffrey Donaldson, and the indication that some may have had knowledge of inappropriate behaviour but which was never reported to the party officers."

They added further details about the independent review "will be announced shortly".