Investigation Uncovers Jeffrey Donaldson's Double Life and Hypocrisy
Quick Look
- An investigation revealed former MP Jeffrey Donaldson's hypocritical double life, including a visit to a gay sauna while condemning homosexuality.
- This follows his conviction for 18 counts of sex abuse, with former DUP MP Ian Paisley also recounting a young woman's exploitation claim against Donaldson.
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Why It Matters
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson was recently convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse against two women when they were children.
An investigation has uncovered more secrets behind the double life of disgraced former MP Jeffrey Donaldson.
Senior former police officers and politicians spoke about behaviour they described as hypocritical and which put Donaldson in danger of being compromised by his political opponents.
Incidents included a visit to a London sauna marketed as a meeting place for gay men the same year he described homosexuality as "sinful".
Whilst much of the conduct is not illegal it tells a story of a 'double life'.
BBC NI Spotlight contacted Donaldson about allegations in its programme but he did not respond.
The ex-DUP leader was this week convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse, including one count of rape, which he committed against two women when they were children.
Former DUP MP Ian Paisley said that five years ago he was approached by a young woman who said she had been "exploited" by Donaldson.
Paisley described her as a "victim" in a text to another politician during the DUP leadership contest between Donaldson and Edwin Poots in 2021.
"She wasn't a teenager but she was a young woman," he said.
"And she said 'Jeffrey Donaldson exploited me, that man used me and I want you to do everything in your power to make sure he is not the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party'."
"Somebody's sexuality is their own business. But I think it's the whole, if you like, history of the DUP.
"They were opposed to gay marriage, they've always had that angle, that bigotry towards members of the gay community and that's where the shock came from, that there could be such a double standard.
"I found it incredible," he said.
That same year Donaldson told the Northern Ireland Assembly: "Judaism, Islam and Christianity all teach that homosexual practice is sinful… it is a sincerely held view by Christians and people of other faiths."
Spotlight: Politician, Predator & Paedophile is on BBC One Northern Ireland on Friday 26 June at 21:00. It will also be available on the BBC iPlayer.
What to Watch
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BBC NI Spotlight program 'Politician, Predator & Paedophile' will air.
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Open Questions
- What specific 'senior former police officers and politicians' spoke to Spotlight?
- What are the full details of the young woman's exploitation claim?
