Jeffrey Donaldson booted out of Orange Order after child sex crime convictions
Jeffrey Donaldson’s membership of the Orange Order would have been automatically revoked after his conviction for child sex offences, the institution has confirmed.
The former DUP leader had long been a member of the fraternal organisation, and marched in Tweflth of July parades each year.
In response to media queries about his membership in light of his convictions, a spokesperson for the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland declined to comment on Donaldson specifically.
However, they said “in accordance with our rules, the membership of any individual found guilty of a serious criminal offence or ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register is terminated with immediate effect”.
DUP councillor Dean McCullough said it was “entirely right” that the convicted criminal had been thrown out of the organisation.
In a post on social media, Mr McCullough said: “The evil crimes for which he has now been convicted represent a profound abuse of trust and reveal him to have been wholly undeserving of the respect, standing and honours bestowed upon him over many years”.
Donaldson was suspended from the party he led after he was arrested and charged with offences in 2024, and it is understood his membership lapsed some time before his trial concluded.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s prime minister Micheal Martin was asked about the Donaldson conviction as he arrived at a cabinet meeting in Dublin on Tuesday morning.
He said: "I think the crimes committed by Jeffrey Donaldson were evil and horrific."
"His manner in which he defended the case I think added further harm and damage to the victims.
"Our hearts go out to the victims, what they went through was absolutely abhorrent, very difficult to comprehend.
"That man lived a lie all his life and he did great evil and great damage and it is horrific and shocking."
Tanaiste Simon Harris said the court in Newry had sent out a "very clear verdict".
He said: “My thoughts today are with the victims of Jeffrey Donaldson in Northern Ireland. Despicable, vile crimes and the decision of a court of justice in the north shows that nobody is beyond the law”.