Stormont Speaker Condemns Former DUP Leader
Stormont speaker Edwin Poots has strongly condemned former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson following his conviction for child sex abuse. Poots accused Donaldson of "destroying the innocence of children" and of repeatedly lying over the years. He expressed shock at the extent of Donaldson's depravity.
Poots made these remarks on Facebook after Donaldson was convicted of 18 child sex offences, including rape, committed against two women when they were minors. Donaldson has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
Biblical Condemnation and Accusations of Deception
In a pointed statement, Poots referenced the Bible, saying:
"The Lord Jesus Christ said, of those who harm children, that it would be better if a millstone was put around their neck and they were cast into the depth of the sea."
Poots further accused Donaldson of choosing to lie when confronted with the consequences of his actions, forcing his victims to relive their trauma and falsely accusing them of dishonesty.
He also stated that he had uncovered numerous lies from Donaldson over many years.
Tribute to Victims
Poots paid tribute to the victims, acknowledging their strength and resilience despite the abuse they suffered as children:
"He may have broken them as children but failed to break them as adults. My heart goes out to the victims of his abuse. They demonstrated honesty, resilience, strength and integrity. I hope they have peace."
Political Context and Party Reactions
Edwin Poots was replaced by Jeffrey Donaldson as DUP leader in 2021 after a bitter internal party split; Poots had served as leader for only three weeks.
In response to Donaldson's conviction, Stormont parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly condemned him as a "fraudulent monster" who abused positions of power and trust through his criminal actions. During a debate on Tuesday, MLAs described Donaldson as having led a "double and duplicitous life" and commended the victims for their courage in speaking out.
All parties called for Donaldson to be stripped of his knighthood and removed from the Privy Council.
Expulsion from the Orange Order
Donaldson has also been expelled from the Orange Order. A spokesperson for the organization stated:
"We do not comment on individual cases. However, in accordance with our rules, the membership of any individual found guilty of a serious criminal offence or ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register is terminated with immediate effect."
