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Jeffrey Donaldson
Jeffrey Mark Donaldson (born 7 December 1962) is a Northern Irish former politician and convicted child sex offender. He served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2021 to 2024.
Donaldson was a member of the Orange Order and served in the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) during the Troubles. He was also the campaign manager for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MP Enoch Powell's re-election campaigns in 1983 and 1986. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lagan Valley from 1997 to 2024 and also represented Lagan Valley as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2003 to 2010. Donaldson was critical of UUP leader David Trimble's support of the Good Friday Agreement during the Northern Ireland peace process, especially from 1998 to 2003. In 2003, Donaldson resigned from the UUP, becoming a member of the DUP in the following year.
After the 2019 general election, Donaldson became the DUP Westminster leader. He was a candidate in the May 2021 DUP leadership election, losing to Edwin Poots. After Poots resigned the following month, Donaldson was elected unopposed in the June 2021 DUP leadership election. He was knighted in 2016, although the knighthood was annulled in 2026.
In February 2022, the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed due to DUP protests against the Northern Ireland Protocol. Donaldson opposed the Windsor Framework announced by the Sunak government in February 2023 and, for 22 months, Donaldson refused to nominate a Deputy First Minister to restore Stormont. In February 2024, the Northern Ireland Executive was restored after a deal was agreed by Donaldson with Sunak's government.
In March 2024, Donaldson stepped down as leader of the DUP after being charged with rape and other historical sexual offences, triggering a leadership election. The party also suspended his membership. He did not stand for re-election at the July 2024 general election. On 22 June 2026, he was found guilty of 18 sexual offences against two victims who were children at the time of the abuse: one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency.
Jeffrey Mark Donaldson was born on 7 December 1962 in Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland, the oldest of five boys and three girls. He attended Kilkeel High School, where he excelled at debating, then Castlereagh College. At the age of sixteen he joined the Orange Order, and then the UUP's Young Unionists.
Two of Donaldson's cousins were killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) while serving in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC): Sam Donaldson was killed in 1970 and Alex Donaldson, a Chief Inspector, died in a mortar attack on a Newry police station in 1985.[better source needed]
Donaldson served with the Kilkeel company of the 3rd Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment (3 UDR),[better source needed] and was promoted to corporal.
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Jeffrey Donaldson
Jeffrey Mark Donaldson (born 7 December 1962) is a Northern Irish former politician and convicted child sex offender. He served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from 2021 to 2024.
Donaldson was a member of the Orange Order and served in the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) during the Troubles. He was also the campaign manager for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MP Enoch Powell's re-election campaigns in 1983 and 1986. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lagan Valley from 1997 to 2024 and also represented Lagan Valley as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2003 to 2010. Donaldson was critical of UUP leader David Trimble's support of the Good Friday Agreement during the Northern Ireland peace process, especially from 1998 to 2003. In 2003, Donaldson resigned from the UUP, becoming a member of the DUP in the following year.
After the 2019 general election, Donaldson became the DUP Westminster leader. He was a candidate in the May 2021 DUP leadership election, losing to Edwin Poots. After Poots resigned the following month, Donaldson was elected unopposed in the June 2021 DUP leadership election. He was knighted in 2016, although the knighthood was annulled in 2026.
In February 2022, the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed due to DUP protests against the Northern Ireland Protocol. Donaldson opposed the Windsor Framework announced by the Sunak government in February 2023 and, for 22 months, Donaldson refused to nominate a Deputy First Minister to restore Stormont. In February 2024, the Northern Ireland Executive was restored after a deal was agreed by Donaldson with Sunak's government.
In March 2024, Donaldson stepped down as leader of the DUP after being charged with rape and other historical sexual offences, triggering a leadership election. The party also suspended his membership. He did not stand for re-election at the July 2024 general election. On 22 June 2026, he was found guilty of 18 sexual offences against two victims who were children at the time of the abuse: one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency.
Jeffrey Mark Donaldson was born on 7 December 1962 in Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland, the oldest of five boys and three girls. He attended Kilkeel High School, where he excelled at debating, then Castlereagh College. At the age of sixteen he joined the Orange Order, and then the UUP's Young Unionists.
Two of Donaldson's cousins were killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) while serving in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC): Sam Donaldson was killed in 1970 and Alex Donaldson, a Chief Inspector, died in a mortar attack on a Newry police station in 1985.[better source needed]
Donaldson served with the Kilkeel company of the 3rd Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment (3 UDR),[better source needed] and was promoted to corporal.
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