Jeffrey Donaldson conviction sparks calls for knighthood to be stripped as unionist leaders react to guilty verdict

Guilty: Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson

The conviction of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson on multiple sexual offence charges has prompted immediate calls for his knighthood to be revoked, with political leaders across unionism describing the verdict as a profound betrayal of public trust and praising the courage of the women who came forward to give evidence.

Donaldson was found guilty on all charges by a jury, bringing one of the most significant political and criminal cases in Northern Ireland’s recent history to a dramatic conclusion.

In the hours following the verdict, unionist leaders issued strongly worded statements focusing on support for the victims, accountability for Donaldson’s actions, and the future implications for both the honours system and political unionism.

Calls for knighthood to be removed immediately

TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP said the conviction was “truly shocking” and argued that Donaldson should be stripped of his knighthood without delay.

“Primarily my thoughts are with his victims, but for whose immense courage and honesty, Donaldson would have continued to play out the role of ‘statesman’,” Mr Allister said.

“Now, he stands exposed as a pedophile.

“Donaldson must be stripped of his knighthood forthwith.”

Mr Allister also raised wider political questions about Donaldson’s leadership during negotiations surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol and the subsequent ‘Safeguarding the Union’ agreement.

He questioned whether Donaldson’s personal circumstances may have influenced political decisions taken during that period, while acknowledging that any suggestion of government involvement would be denied.

Mr Allister said there was “much here for the DUP to address” and confirmed he had tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling on the Prime Minister to recommend that Donaldson’s knighthood be removed.

UUP leader writes to Honours Forfeiture Committee

Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA also called for Donaldson to lose his knighthood and revealed he had formally written to the Honours Forfeiture Committee.

Describing the offences as “among the gravest crimes imaginable”, Mr Burrows said Donaldson had abused positions of trust while presenting himself as a public servant.

“I want to pay tribute to the brave women who gave evidence against Jeffrey Donaldson about the abuse he inflicted on them,” he said.

“The fact that Donaldson showed no remorse and called his victims liars is reprehensible.”

Mr Burrows added that no public office or title should place anyone above the law.

“There is no rank, no title, and no past office that places anyone above the law. Jeffrey Donaldson abused his power and betrayed everyone who ever placed their faith in him.”

In his letter to the Honours Forfeiture Committee, Mr Burrows argued that allowing Donaldson to retain his knighthood would risk bringing the honours system into disrepute.

He wrote that stripping the title would send a clear message that sexual abuse against women and girls will not be tolerated.

DUP says justice has been done

The Democratic Unionist Party issued a lengthy statement delivered by party leader Gavin Robinson MP, stressing that Donaldson has not been a member of the party since March 2024 when he was charged with historic sex offences.

The party said it had placed its faith in the criminal justice system and now accepted the jury’s verdict.

“A jury has concluded that Jeffrey Donaldson is guilty of the most heinous and despicable crimes,” the statement said.

“Having reached that guilty verdict, we welcome the fact that justice has been done.”

The DUP said its thoughts were “first and foremost” with the victims and described the abuse, subsequent court proceedings and requirement to give evidence as deeply traumatic.

The party praised the women for their courage in coming forward and expressed hope that the verdict would help them rebuild their lives.

The statement also acknowledged the wider impact of Donaldson’s actions on colleagues, supporters and the wider community.

“He also stands guilty of abusing and betraying the trust placed in him by many people over the years, including good honest colleagues in both our party and the Ulster Unionist Party as well as the wider community,” the DUP said.

The party added that it was “shocked” by evidence heard during the trial and stated that “no one, regardless of status or position, can ever be above the law”.

A political and personal reckoning

Donaldson was one of the most prominent figures in Northern Ireland politics for a number of years, serving as leader of the DUP, MP for Lagan Valley and previously holding senior positions within both the DUP and Ulster Unionist Party.

The guilty verdict now leaves him facing sentencing and has triggered fresh scrutiny of his political legacy, with questions already being raised by opponents and former colleagues alike about the lasting impact of his actions on public confidence and unionist politics.

For victims’ advocates and many political leaders, however, the immediate focus remains on the women whose evidence secured the convictions and on ensuring that the justice process is allowed to run its course.

The calls to remove Donaldson’s knighthood are likely to intensify in the days ahead, while the wider political consequences of one of Northern Ireland’s most significant criminal convictions continue to unfold.