Jailed former Northern Ireland DUP party leader investigated for alleged rape inside parliament: Report

Jeffrey Donaldson, former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland, who was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex offenses, is allegedly being investigated for an alleged rape of a woman inside the UK parliament, according to a report on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Police is investigating an alleged rape of a woman in parliament in 2016, after a woman was interviewed by Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers, the BBC reported.

The report said the PSNI has shared her claims with the Metropolitan Police, as the alleged incident happened in London. Without naming the former DUP leader, the Metropolitan Police issued a statement confirming it is investigating a 63-year-old man. Donaldson is 63. "On Tuesday 13 October, the Met received a report referred to us by the Police Service of Northern Ireland relating to an allegation of rape in 2016, by a man now aged 63," it said.

"The allegation relates to one victim who is being supported by specialist officers. Donaldson was sentenced last week to 15 years in prison for child sex offenses. The judge in the case said that one woman grew up feeling ashamed. She said, "Every day I pray God will let me die." Donaldson resigned as the party leader in March 2024, when police charged him with rape and other historical sexual offenses. He was convicted of 18 offenses in July.

The judge said that the former MP's offenses have led to a "catastrophic descent into disgrace." He was also stripped of his knighthood in July. "He deserves every day of the lengthy prison sentence," the DUP said following last week's judgment.