Jeffrey Donaldson, the prominent leader of Northern Ireland’s principal unionist faction, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), resigned on Friday after facing historical sex offense charges, the party announced.
Donaldson, a key figure in Northern Irish politics and the longest-serving lawmaker from Northern Ireland in the British parliament since 1997, and a former Northern Irish Assembly member, has been embroiled in controversy following these charges.
“The Party Chairman has received a letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP confirming that he has been charged with ‘allegations of an historical nature’ and indicating that he is stepping down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party with immediate effect,” disclosed the DUP in a formal statement.
The party further stated, “In accordance with the party rules, the party officers have suspended Mr. Donaldson from membership, pending the outcome of a judicial process.”
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) earlier revealed that detectives had arrested and charged a 61-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman for non-recent sexual offenses and aiding and abetting, respectively, scheduled for court appearance on April 24.
While the DUP and PSNI abstained from revealing the identities involved, a Reuters source identified Donaldson, a claim mirrored by other media but not independently verified by Reuters.
Donaldson remained unresponsive to Reuters’ inquiries for comments.
In the wake of these developments, Gavin Robinson, a DUP lawmaker, assumed the role of interim party leader, expressing the profound shock and dismay the allegations have incited across the community and political spectrum.
Amidst this upheaval, Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government, a crucial element of the 1998 peace agreement, recently reactivated after a two-year hiatus.
Michelle O’Neill, First Minister and leader of Sinn Fein, emphasized the executive coalition’s commitment to its policy objectives, highlighting leadership and public service as priorities.
Similarly, Robinson underscored the DUP’s dedication to ensuring the efficacy of power-sharing.
Donaldson’s departure marks a significant moment for the DUP, especially with looming British parliamentary elections and following Sinn Fein’s historic ascendancy in the 2022 Northern Irish assembly elections.
His resignation follows internal party challenges, including a recent end to a boycott of the power-sharing government related to post-Brexit trade rules—a move Donaldson navigated through a compromise with the British government, easing trade barriers that had unsettled unionist constituents.
Following these events, Donaldson’s social media presence has been erased, with notices of account deletions across platforms.