Parties question what DUP knew about latest Donaldson allegation

Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party have said the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has further questions to answer about what it knew about the behaviour of its former leader Jeffrey Donaldson.

On Tuesday the Belfast Telegraph ran a story in which a woman said Donaldson sexually assaulted her in November 2016 and that she had made a senior member of the party aware of what happened.

The woman said the assault happened in the DUP's Westminster offices after Donaldson had given her a tour of the building.

A DUP spokesperson said the party "never received any report or complaint regarding these allegations".

"We encourage anyone with information or a complaint regarding Jeffrey Donaldson to report it to the police," the spokesperson added.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it had received a report about an allegation of a non-recent offence and was "assessing the information".

In June, Donaldson was convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse, including one count of rape, committed against two women when they were children.

He is in custody waiting to be sentenced.

The woman in the Belfast Telegraph story said Donaldson put his hand up her skirt and tried to kiss her.

Sinn Féin's Deidre Hargey said the DUP could not "hide behind" an independent review it announced following Donaldson's conviction.

"The public are entitled to answers from the DUP leader [Gavin Robinson] and from the deputy first minister [Emma Little-Pengelly].

"The DUP, and the deputy first minister, need to provide the answers and accountability that people deserve.

"They should speak out publicly and encourage all victims of Donaldson to come forward."

Alliance deputy leader Eóin Tennyson said the Belfast Telegraph's report was "deeply concerning".

"Taken alongside other recent reports, including separate claims about a 'warning' allegedly given to another young woman about Donaldson's behaviour, each new revelation raises further questions about whether opportunities were missed to protect people and what action was taken," the Upper Bann MLA said.

"The public is entitled to expect openness and transparency about who knew what and when.

"These serious questions cannot simply be brushed aside."

Since Donaldson's convictions a number of people have spoken out about his alleged behaviour in the past.

These include contributors to BBC News NI's Spotlight programme, who said Donaldson's behaviour included public drunkenness, a visit to a gay sauna and acting inappropriately towards a female colleague on a trip abroad.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson previously accused other parties of using the situation for "political purposes".

"The hypocrisy that lies behind those in politics using this tragedy for their own political ends, it's not only disappointing but I think it's clear for the public to see," he said.

He said a DUP review into Donaldson's time in the party "won't leave any stone unturned, we're bringing someone in who is independent to conduct this review in a way no other party has".