The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland (DUP), Jeffrey Donaldson, resigned this Friday, March 29, after being accused of alleged sexual crimes that he had committed in the past. Donaldson was the territory's longest-serving legislator in the British Parliament.
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Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of Northern Ireland's largest unionist party, steps down.
In confirming his resignation, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) stressed that the resignation has immediate effect. Donaldson resigns after being accused of alleged sexual crimes.
“The president of the party has received a letter from MP Jeffrey Donaldson confirming that he has been charged with allegations of a historical nature and indicating that he will resign as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party with immediate effect,” the political group said in a statement.
At an emergency meeting, the party suspended the membership of Donaldson, who is due to appear in court next month. As interim leader, the political movement appointed its deputy leader, Gavin Robinson.
“In accordance with party rules, party leadership has suspended Mr. Donaldson as a member, pending the outcome of a judicial process,” the official note added.
Donaldson has so far been the longest-serving Northern Irish legislator in the British Legislature, to which he was first elected in 1997. He is also a former member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The abrupt end of his leadership of the largest unionist party surprises Northern Ireland, and shakes the Government of that British territory, as well as the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
His resignation comes amid a tumultuous period for the DUP and ahead of elections to the British Parliament, scheduled for later this year.
The Police issued a statement indicating that a 61-year-old man had been charged on Thursday, March 28, with “non-recent sexual crimes” and that a 57-year-old woman had been accused of complicity in additional crimes. Both are due to appear before Newry Magistrates' Court, County Down, on April 24.
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