The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has announced it will establish an independent process to handle information concerning child abuse allegations against former member Jeffrey Donaldson. Donaldson was convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse.
Donaldson's political career began with the UUP in 1985 when he was elected to represent the South Down constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Prior to his election, he worked for South Down MP Enoch Powell. In 1997, Donaldson retained his seat for the UUP in Lagan Valley after the retirement of MP James Molyneaux.
His tenure with the UUP was marked by dissatisfaction with the party's direction, particularly regarding the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Donaldson voiced significant criticism of the agreement, especially concerning the decommissioning of IRA weapons, and advised then-leader David Trimble against its support. Even after the agreement and the formation of the first power-sharing government, he continued to challenge the party's leadership and supported unsuccessful attempts to remove Trimble from his position.
In 2003, Donaldson departed from the UUP and joined the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).