Jeffrey Donaldson, the former Democratic Unionist Party leader, was remanded in custody to Maghaberry Prison on Monday after a jury at Newry Crown Court convicted him of 18 historical sex offences. The jury deliberated for 10 hours and delivered its guilty verdicts in 10 minutes. Judge Paul Ramsey told the 63-year-old that a long custodial sentence was inevitable and remanded him until sentencing in September.

Donaldson was found guilty of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault on a female, and four counts of gross indecency towards a child. The offences spanned 1985 to 2008 and involved two women who were children at the time. His wife Eleanor Donaldson, who was deemed medically unfit to stand trial, was found in a trial of the facts to have committed acts of aiding and abetting rape and indecent assault. Donaldson was placed on the sex offenders’ register.

The conviction prompted a Matter of the Day debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday. MLAs across the political spectrum condemned Donaldson and expressed solidarity with the victims. Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin said the victims had shown strength and dignity, and expressed hope their resilience would encourage other survivors to come forward. DUP deputy leader Michelle McIlveen said Donaldson had lived a double life and announced the party would write to the Forfeiture Committee to seek the removal of his knighthood and Privy Council membership. DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley described his former leader as a convicted child abuser and rapist.

Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows said all state honours should be removed without delay, and noted Donaldson had worn a Christian symbol on his lapel as he entered court. TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said the justice system had delivered for victims after years of abuse. SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole acknowledged the work of police and prosecutors, and cited the support offered by organisations such as Nexus. TUV leader Jim Allister confirmed he had tabled a Commons motion calling for the knighthood to be revoked. The Forfeiture Committee automatically considers cases involving sexual offence convictions.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson, in a statement, said the party welcomed the verdict and condemned the abuse. He added that no one is above the law. Alliance deputy leader Eóin Tennyson and Sinn Féin MP John Finucane also praised the courage of the victims in coming forward.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the crimes as evil and horrific, and said Donaldson’s denials had added further harm. Tánaiste Simon Harris called the acts despicable and said the verdict showed nobody is beyond the law.

Former prison governor Ian Acheson detailed the induction process Donaldson would undergo at Maghaberry. He said the new prisoner would be searched, have his clothing removed, be photographed and medically screened, and be allocated a prison number. Acheson added that staff would take an abundance of caution regarding any risk of self-harm, and Donaldson might be placed in the prison’s hospital unit if assessed as acutely at risk. He said the first days in custody are when a first-time prisoner is most vulnerable.

The Orange Order confirmed that any member found guilty of a serious criminal offence has their membership terminated immediately. Donaldson had been a member. He led the DUP from 2021 until his arrest in March 2024, when he resigned. He was elected as an MP for Lagan Valley and was knighted in 2016.

Nexus chief executive Joanne Barnes noted that only 26 percent of rape cases reaching court in Northern Ireland in 2024-25 resulted in a guilty verdict, describing such outcomes as statistically unlikely. Survivor Nicola Bannon said special measures introduced after the Gillen Review, such as giving evidence via a remote link, had been helpful in her own case.