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 don't think it is CSA, I think the alleged victims were/are adults.

He was only arrested yesterday morning and charged last night so I'm sure his party are as shocked as anyone else.Tne police have handled it well so far, worst case scenario would have been multiple arrests and media leaks before he was charged.

Sex offenders walk among us, they don't have to be from any particular party or background.

@EmmaGrundyForPM it's not been confirmed in the media. But that's certainly not what is circulating on the wires in NI. I'm nearly tempted to say the relationships which have been alleged but I do think this thread will either be pulled or become the subject of a legal case. Nothing will be confirmed until the accused appear in court later in April.

They are described as "historical" offences, so the victims may be adults now, but were children at the time it seems.

Ha. No Event of any nature ever makes anything entrenched less entrenched in NI.

I just heard about it from my adult son earlier so just asked a question on craicnet on here. Never liked him as all he says is NO. Miserable it stuck in the past and hope if he is guilty he gets what is coming to him. I cannot believe his wife would be involved as hard to imagine a woman doing this but it does happen. This is not good for the dup which is not a bad thing as they need to move with the times for the good of Ireland.

Muggedbyreality I agree with you, look at the catholic church and all the child abuse, abuse of women and the shame put on women in the name of the Lord. Those that try to act the most religious, devout are usually the abusers. Good point.

Sorry but I'm not shocked by this.

I bet people in his party must have known for years but only for the bravery of those victims coming forward it would not be known to the general public. Never liked the miserable man anyway.

I don't know. I think there's many a person who gets a horrific shock when the truth comes out about a close friend, colleague or relation. I'm no fan of the DUP but I don't think we have enough information to accuse them of a coverup just yet.

Exactly. The particular flavour of devout religion matters less than the sexual repression.

And the gangs of devoutly religious Asian Muslim men raping young girls from different ethno-religious groups in Rotherham, Rochdale, Derby etc etc.

Muggedbyreality I know and even after it was all exposed in the north of England it is still going on and you know what, it is now happening here with young vulnerable girls in carehomes, same thing been picked up by men in taxi's and god knows what those poor girls are going through and it will be another 20 years before the horrible truth comes out when it could be prevented but we cannot offend anyone or seen as racist. Those poor children. Even now in Ireland adults who were abused by the church here when they were children still waiting for compensation and the mother and baby homes where babies taken from the mums without their consent. Makes me sick. But it was the church and government in it all together.

Same town that he's from and he would have known that man well.

There is also a strange incident on a plane at Heathrow (iirc) last week where a man was turfed off the plane after hurling verbal abuse at JD. I don't know what this man said, or whether it was political or personal.

I’m always suspicious of ‘holier than thou’ politicians, whatever the party.

They're a teeming mass of vice underneath.

I doubt very much they knew of anything of this nature. I'm pretty sure they've been blindsided too.

Always thought he was a bit of a sanctimonious prick but never saw this coming!

I think speculation about the identity of his alleged victims is outrageous.

I do think that people will speculate but I rather think they should keep their thoughts to themselves.

Also if the court case is in Newry it seems the alleged crimes would have taken place near this town too..

A young man is in custody for murdering his father and his mother is in hospital with serious head injuries. Linking this terrible case to Jeffrey Donaldson's arrest and suggestion of a paedophile ring is potentially damaging to each of these trials and totally disrespectful of the victims.

Why repeat this, respect the victims.