The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has confirmed it will appoint an independent organisation to establish a process for people to confidentially share information about Jeffrey Donaldson, who was a member from 1985 to 2003. The move comes after Donaldson was convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse, including one count of rape, committed against two women when they were children.
Donaldson, a former Democratic Unionist Party leader, joined the UUP in 1985 and remained a member until 2003, before defecting to the DUP. The UUP has also announced a review of its safeguarding arrangements.
UUP leader Jon Burrows commissioned a rapid review to establish the facts regarding Donaldson's time in the party. The review found no complaint or concern about Donaldson was ever raised with the party during his membership, but the UUP acknowledged that this absence of a record does not necessarily mean there is nothing further to be established.
A spokesperson for the UUP stated that the party recognises the importance of transparency and accountability, and that only a fully independent inquiry can establish what, if anything, was known about Donaldson across his entire public career by political parties.
The DUP has also commissioned an independent review into Donaldson's time in their party.