The Ulster Unionists are to establish an \u201cindependent confidential process\u201d into potential complaints during Jeffrey Donaldson\u2019s time in the party.<\/p>\n
Donaldson, 63, was convicted at Newry Crown Court last month of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.<\/p>\n
The offences were committed between 1985 and 2008.<\/p>\n
The two victims gave evidence against him during the trial, during which Donaldson had denied the offences.<\/p>\n
His wife Eleanor Donaldson, 60, was found to have aided and abetted his crimes following a trial of the facts, which was granted on mental health grounds.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows confirmed it would appoint an independent external organisation to provide a confidential route for anyone who had information or concerns about Jeffrey Donaldson during his time in the party.<\/p>\n
Donaldson began his political career with the UUP, joining in his late teens.<\/p>\n
In the early 1980s, he worked as personal assistant for former Conservative cabinet minister and then UUP MP Enoch Powell.<\/p>\n
In 1985, aged 22, he was elected to a short-lived incarnation of the Northern Ireland Assembly and later became MP for Lagan Valley in 1997.<\/p>\n
Following a fractured relationship with then UUP leader David Trimble over aspects of the Good Friday Agreement, he quit the UUP in 2003 and defected to the Democratic Unionist Party, where he would eventually become leader.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the UUP said a \u201crapid review\u201d after Donaldson\u2019s conviction did not find any formal nor informal complaint nor concern, and the party said it had not been contacted by the PSNI \u201cat any point\u201d about the matters concerned.<\/p>\n
However, the party said this was a \u201cfirst step\u201d and \u201cnot the end of the matter\u201d.<\/p>\n
It said the new independent review will also examine the party\u2019s safeguarding arrangements.<\/p>\n
Mr Burrows has also written to Chief Constable Jon Boutcher to offer \u201csupport for a proactive public appeal\u201d about Donaldson.<\/p>\n
The UUP said it believes that only a fully independent inquiry can establish \u201cwhat, if anything, was known about Donaldson across his entire public career\u201d by political parties, the police services, security agencies and Government.<\/p>\n
It said there are \u201cimportant lessons\u201d to be examined about vetting, safeguarding and public appointments as it called in incoming prime minister Andy Burnham to establish such an inquiry.<\/p>\n
The DUP has also launched its own independent examination into Donaldson\u2019s time within the party, while the Northern Ireland Assembly has begun a review into any allegations of alleged abuse or inappropriate behaviour associated with his time in Stormont.<\/p>\n
Donaldson is currently being held at Maghaberry Prison in his former parliamentary constituency of Lagan Valley awaiting sentencing.<\/p>\n
Last week, his lawyer said he is to launch an appeal.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, he was removed from the Privy Council after he asked for his name to be taken off the list of members of the body of senior advisers to the King.<\/p>\n