Jeffrey Donaldson surrenders knighthood and quits Privy Council after sex trial disgrace
Disgraced former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has renounced his title – the knighthood – and his membership of the Privy Council after being convicted on historic sex abuse charges, the News Letter can reveal.
Solicitor John McBurney told the News Letter: "I have this afternoon issued a letter signed by Jeffrey Donaldson to the Cabinet Office indicating his request to renounce and forfeit his Knighthood.
"I have also this afternoon issued a letter signed by Jeffrey Donaldson to the Privy Council Office tendering his resignation from the Privy Council with immediate effect.”
On Monday, a jury of seven men and five women at Newry Crown Court unanimously found 63-year-old Donaldson guilty of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, against two women when they were children
The offences were committed between 1985 and 2008.
The two victims gave evidence against him during the trial, during which Donaldson had denied the offences.
Judge Paul Ramsey told the former political leader that he can expect a “lengthy” prison term when he is sentenced.