Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has spoken out about the conviction of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson for historical sex abuse. In a revealing interview on the BBC's Red Lines podcast, Ms Little-Pengelly expressed her profound shock and revulsion at learning of his initial arrest and subsequent charges. The fact that someone who held such a senior position in politics was capable of perpetrating such heinous crimes has left her feeling "completely floored", she revealed.
Ms Little-Pengelly, who worked alongside Donaldson for over two decades, including roles as a special adviser, MP, and MLA, described the sentiment among his former colleagues as one of shock, repulsion, and a sense that they had been deceived. She recounted her own experiences working with him, beginning in her mid-20s, and stated that she never received any warnings about his behaviour nor did she personally perceive him as a "sexual predator" or "sleazy".
Following Donaldson's conviction, the BBC Spotlight investigation uncovered allegations of a 'double life', with former senior police officers and politicians discussing behaviour they deemed hypocritical and potentially compromising. However, Ms Little-Pengelly firmly asserted that these other allegations, whether true or not, pale into insignificance compared to the gravity of his proven crimes. She stressed that the paramount focus must remain on the fact that he has been convicted as a "rapist and a paedophile" and the terrible ordeal endured by his victims to secure justice.
The DUP's decision to establish an independent review to examine Donaldson's actions and determine the extent of any knowledge within the party has been welcomed by Ms Little-Pengelly. She expressed her hope that this review will "absolutely clarify exactly who knew what" about Donaldson's behaviour, although she personally suspects it will demonstrate that "nobody had any inkling whatsoever that this person was who he has now come to light to be".
Addressing other allegations, Ms Little-Pengelly maintained that she never witnessed problematic drinking or sexually inappropriate behaviour from Donaldson. While acknowledging a former DUP MP's account of seeing him "blindingly drunk" on a St Patrick's trip to Washington, she stated, "I didn't see anything that made me think that there were any issues in terms of problematic behaviour regarding drinking or in terms of sexually inappropriate behaviour." She further added that, in her experience, Donaldson appeared to be someone who was deeply committed to his work.