The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader, Gavin Robinson, has affirmed his commitment to a 'robust' independent safeguarding review into Jeffrey Donaldson's tenure as a party member. The announcement comes in the wake of Donaldson's conviction last month for 18 counts of sex abuse, including one count of rape, committed against two women when they were children.
Jim Gamble, a highly regarded child safeguarding expert and former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, has been appointed to lead the review through his company, iNEQE Safeguarding Group. Mr. Robinson defended the appointment, highlighting Mr. Gamble's "impeccable and unquestionable credentials in the safeguarding sphere" and expressing his confidence in his independence and capacity to conduct the investigation.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from the Northern Ireland Survivor Council, which voiced "serious concern" regarding Mr. Gamble's involvement. Their apprehension stems from the fact that Mr. Gamble's company is simultaneously undertaking an external review of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's governance and safeguarding arrangements. The Council questioned whether one organisation could "independently and robustly conduct both reviews at the same time," advocating for a "different" safeguarding organisation to be commissioned for the DUP's review.
Mr. Robinson, speaking on Good Morning Ulster, reiterated his confidence in Mr. Gamble, stating, "I have no questions about his independence or capacity to do this review." He emphasised the importance of the review in providing clarity to both the party and the public regarding what was known, what could have been known, and whether the DUP's existing safeguarding policies and procedures are adequate or require modification. This commitment follows a BBC Spotlight investigation that revealed two senior DUP members were reportedly made aware of different allegations against Donaldson five years ago, when a young woman claimed to have been "exploited" by him.
The DUP's internal review aims to address these serious questions and ensure accountability, while also scrutinising the party's internal processes for handling such allegations. The outcome of this investigation will be crucial in restoring public trust and demonstrating the DUP's commitment to robust safeguarding practices within its ranks.