Debate contribution: Jeffrey Donaldson: Sentencing
Debate contribution by Mrs Linda Dillon on .
- MLA
- Mrs Linda Dillon
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 19 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Matter of the Day
- Heading
- Jeffrey Donaldson: Sentencing
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5795234
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle.
I begin by saying that our thoughts are with the victims of Jeffrey Donaldson and, indeed, with all victims of the sexual abuse and abuse of women and children. The victims of Jeffrey Donaldson have used their advocacy to reflect the challenges and difficulties in coming forward and the re-traumatisation caused by doing so. They are much better placed to reflect their feelings on the issue. I will, however, say to everyone that their right to anonymity and privacy should be protected and must be respected. The identity of the abuser should not remove that right. It is important to highlight that at the outset. Jeffrey Donaldson was the leader of the DUP, an MP, a knight bachelor and a member of the Privy Council. That raises a wider issue about the abuse of position, trust and power, the protection of children and the barriers to victims and survivors coming forward, particularly when their abuser holds a position of power. Jeffrey Donaldson and others like him use their position to abuse and then cover up that abuse and to undermine and threaten their victims. We need to understand whether the Executive Office has looked at the case with advocacy groups and, indeed, victims to see whether lessons can be learned so that they can be implemented in the strategy on violence against women and girls. We need to understand from the Education Minister whether there are any safeguarding concerns arising from Jeffrey Donaldson's involvement with schools or boards of governors. We need to understand from the Communities Minister whether he will look at stronger regulation for charities, such as the Christian Family Centre in Armoy, on the reporting of sexual offences. The DUP's review of the Jeffrey Donaldson case was announced in July. We have not yet seen a report or even had an update on that.
There are still many questions left to be answered about the crimes committed by Jeffrey Donaldson. It is important for us to have answers to all those questions, because holding a position of power and trust comes with an expectation that should be met. The public should rightly expect that we all behave in a certain way and that, when we do not, we will be held fully to account, as we should be. We should allow nobody to use a position of power and trust to give them some sort of air of respectability or cover for their behaviours. We need to know the answers to all the questions surrounding the other allegations against Jeffrey Donaldson in Westminster and, potentially, here.
436 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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