The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is set to engage an external, independent organization to create a secure, confidential channel for individuals to report information concerning Jeffrey Donaldson’s tenure within the party. Last month, Donaldson was found guilty of 18 sex abuse charges, including a count of rape, involving two victims who were minors at the time of the offenses.
Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), held UUP membership between 1985 and 2003. In response to the convictions, the UUP has committed to updating its safeguarding protocols. While the party’s initial internal review identified no reports regarding Donaldson during his 18-year term, UUP leader Jon Burrows emphasized that the absence of formal records does not preclude the possibility of undisclosed issues. Consequently, the party is initiating an independent process to ensure thorough investigation.
The UUP maintains that only a broad, fully empowered inquiry could determine what political parties knew throughout Donaldson’s entire public career. Meanwhile, the DUP has also initiated its own independent review into his time with their organization. Donaldson’s legal representatives have indicated his intention to challenge the convictions.
