POLICE INVESTIGATE RAPE ALLEGATION AGAINST JEFFREY DONALDSON

The Metropolitan Police are investigating an allegation that Jeffrey Donaldson raped a woman inside the Houses of Parliament in 2016. The force said the Police Service of Northern Ireland referred the allegation on Tuesday 13 October. Officers in Northern Ireland had interviewed the woman before passing the claim to London police. The Metropolitan Police said specialist officers are supporting her. “The investigation is in its early stages,” a force spokesperson said. Police have made no arrests and are continuing their enquiries.

Donaldson received a 15-year prison sentence last week for sexual offences against two women committed when they were children. A jury convicted him of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency. The offences took place between 1985 and 2008, according to remarks by Judge Paul Ramsey at Newry Crown Court. Donaldson denied the charges, and both complainants gave evidence at his trial. He had remained in Maghaberry Prison in County Antrim since the trial ended in June while awaiting sentence.

One complainant described inappropriate touching and kissing, as well as an occasion when Donaldson used a light to examine her genitals. The other said Donaldson raped her when she was of primary school age and sexually assaulted her later. At sentencing, Ramsey said Donaldson had shown no “regret, apology or shame” and had “doubled down on his denials”. Donaldson led the DUP from 2021 to 2024 and represented Lagan Valley in Parliament. He first entered Parliament in 1997 with the UUP.