Jeffrey Donaldson

[Cafog]

Is there a thread yet that I haven't found? Shocked to hear this news this morning about the recently knighted MP and leader of the DUP being charged with historical sex offences along with his wife. And disgusted at all those in a froth on social media who haven't even spared a thought for his potential victims.

I am shocked but then I've always thought he was a creep. I thought it was because his views were so differently aligned to mine, but nope he's just a nonce.

The rumours were rife here in NI from the early hours of the morning, then when his twitter and Facebook accounts were shut down and Jamie mouthpiece Bryson started to stab him in the back, it near enough confirmed it was JD.

The prosecution service must have enough evidence to think there will be high chance of a conviction.
Thinking of the victims in all this.

I know, but I have a brain and looking at the "whistleblower" and the other person arrested it is not rocket science either I'd say to have a bloody good guess.

@Quizine
I've heard who is rumoured to be the victims but it's not hard to guess given that his wife has also been arrested, so somebody very close to both of them.

I am horrified but not surprised. I hope to god the victims get the justice they deserve. It's being well circulated in local groups on FB who they are.

Not surprising at all. The DUP are exactly the sort of outwardly devoutly religious, sexually repressed, publicly moralising hypocrites you would expect this sort of thing from.

Exactly this!

Did he resign or was he chucked out?

He stepped down.

The other shocking thing I learnt this morning was that Jeff’s mentor in his early career was….Enoch Powell. A guest at his wedding too. Fucking hell.

Judge a man by his friends…

Before being pushed presumably.

For a wonder the Orange Order have suspended him. Maybe they’ve learned something from their usual policy of staunchly defending violent & abusive men.

And apparently he’s over here in London, presumably to avoid any “unofficial” justice being doled out. He doesn’t exactly circulate where he’d be recognised over here (unless you count “going to work”, obviously).

Unless/until the name of the 57 year old woman is published I think speculating may potentially get the thread yanked for legal reasons - things like that have happened before, so exercising caution is advisable, however obvious things may seem.

@NitroNine it is is in news that the woman is his wife. Check out the Belfast live link. It was updated a few hours ago.

Is it?

The DUP are a party that have held women and girls in contempt for years. I don’t find it unbelievable that their leader is a sex offender who targeted children.

This morning it was a 61 year old man and his 57 year old wife. This afternoon it's Jeffrey Donaldson and a 57 year old woman. I don't think reaching a conclusion on the identity of the 57 year old woman is unreasonable.

God love the victims. That must have taken tremendous courage to come forward. I hope they have support.

He is a sanctimonious shit, waffling on for 3 years about protocol, turning NI into a shitfest and he’s a (alleged) nonce. I’m not actually shocked, given the DUP who are full of dodgy incels. According to the papers the 57yr old woman has remained in NI and Jeff has fecked off to England. No doubt at the expense of the taxpayer.

Another good Christian family man ! What does this say about the mentality and rhetoric around men being in charge and only answerable to god while women are subservient to men!

Surely if he's convicted he'll be stripped of the knighthood?

Another nonce off the streets 👏

The DUP are VERY litigious so be careful everyone.

If guilty of what they have been charged with, never mind what is being suggested by those circulating rumours about the detail, he and his 'accomplice' are absolute monsters.

This is as big as Jimmy Saville for Northern Ireland and has repercussions for the whole of the UK because it has the potential to pull down the institutions and reopen Brexit/ border issues which impact everyone in the UK and Ireland, and many in Europe.

Agree this has a potential impact that is very wide.

It is incredibly brave of the victim(s) to come forward and undermine the DUP.

JD was an officer in the UDR, and a member of the Orange Order from age 16.

Circling the wagons is a part of the culture of NI that is deeply embedded.

This is just horrendous - how people accused of such things end up in positions of power is truly awful.

Praying for those with the courage to have come forward.

@zurg123 their later reporting has switched to “57 year old woman” in line with the rest of the press & nobody else is naming her - the point is that MN may have to pull the thread because she’s not made her identity public; & almost certainly “Belfast Live” just applied their powers of deduction when they first published rather than having a source. I’m not going to say I think they’re right that the most likely person to be arrested was arrested because that could constitute contempt of court (even without a direct/explicit comment on likelihood of said person being innocent).

Tbh I think Belfast live just forgot to edit the second half of the article, the top half didn't name her when I read it earlier but the second half did.

I wonder if this situation might lead to the collapse of hardline Unionism now. The Alliance Party may gain in a by election if JD resigns (or otherwise leaves) his Westminster seat. Or the UUP might either, who knows?

The departure of JD will either cement the hardliners or soften the Unionist approach to a more pragmatic one. Interesting times ahead. I do hope the Assembly is not affected and continues to do its work, although I don't think JD is an MLA but an MP.