Debate contribution: Jeffrey Donaldson: Rape and Child Sexual Abuse Conviction
Debate contribution by Ms Kate Nicholl on .
- MLA
- Ms Kate Nicholl
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 23 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Matter of the Day
- Heading
- Jeffrey Donaldson: Rape and Child Sexual Abuse Conviction
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5636682
Read the official Assembly record
Text
On behalf of the Alliance Party, I recognise the extraordinary and remarkable bravery and courage of the two victims. Yesterday's verdict will not undo the harm that was done to them, but, hopefully, it sends a clear recognition that what happened was wrong and that Jeffrey Donaldson will feel the full weight of the law. It is a clear message that no one, regardless of what position they hold in society, is above the law. We are conscious that there are two victims who have been at the centre of this and who have shouldered so much, but there are many other people watching who are reliving things that happened to them in their childhood — people who maybe have information that they have not passed on. The message is clear: if you come forward, justice can be done. The Nexus helpline is 0808 802 1414. It is a local number, and it has a chat function that people can use if they do not feel comfortable speaking directly. There is also an amazing charity called the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC). I have been working with a number of constituents who were abused as children, and the impact of that abuse cannot be downplayed. It has stayed with them for their whole lives, and the silence compounds the trauma. As a society, and as an Assembly, we have to do everything that we can to allow people to come forward, and to make sure that they are supported when they come forward with that story, because so often, when you share what you have been through but are not supported in the way that is necessary, it can make it much worse. We have so much work to do. The two survivors are remarkable. They have done so much for so many people in Northern Ireland, and we wish them well. They have gone through a difficult period. We hope that there is healing from this as they go forward. To everyone else who has been impacted on and who is reliving awful things that have happened to them, please know that there is support and that we are here to support you.
367 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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