The Victim of Crime Commissioner says her thoughts are with the victims and commended them for their "courage and fortitude".

Geraldine Hanna told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra the delay in cases going through Northern Ireland's courts can prolong the trauma for victims.

"Delay causes harm not just to the victims' mental health - it impacts on every part of their lives," she said.

"The longer it takes the worse harm is caused. All efforts need to be improving that delay."

She added that the case proves "no one is beyond the reach of the law".

Image source, Press Association

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister says it is "inconceivable" the government was unaware of Jeffrey Donaldson's "proclivities".

He says the government used this knowledge as "leverage" to make sure the former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader came to an agreement over the Northern Ireland protocol.

In a statement he said: "To me it is inconceivable that the government was unaware of his proclivities and the idea of such being used as leverage is far from fanciful.

"His about turn from 'unalterable opposition' to the protocol to protocol facilitator was telling."

In the same statement, Allister says he has started the process of attempting to strip Donaldson of his knighthood.

He has tabled a motion in the House of Commons which would call on the prime minister to recommend to King Charles that Donaldson's knighthood be removed.

Earlier we heard from Northern Ireland's first minister and now we have a statement from the deputy first minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, who served in the DUP under his leadership.

She said "many of us feel fundamentally betrayed", adding that "today is the day for the victims".

"I know our support and our thoughts will be with the victims of the appalling abuse.

"To have to go through a trial to get justice only adds to the trauma they have experienced. It takes a huge amount of courage for the victims of such abuse to come forward to pursue justice"

Little-Pengelly is also the DUP MLA for Lagan Valley, the constituency of which Donaldson was MP.

"I know many people across Lagan Valley will be deeply shocked and horrified today. I know many of us are reeling from the despicable and vile criminal behaviour that has come to light during this case."

Joanne Barnes CEO of Nexus NI said the guilty verdict marks an important step towards justice and accountability for the victims.

“It is important to focus on the immense bravery of the victims for remaining engaged with the criminal justice process despite the significant personal cost that this can bring.

“The courage required to report and remain engaged throughout should not be underestimated, particularly when the process can feel overwhelming or prolonged.”

A spokesperson for NSPCC Northern Ireland said Donaldson held a position of trust in the community, but he grossly betrayed this by repeatedly sexually abusing two girls, while his wife Eleanor was aware but failed to act.

"The victims in this case, now adults, have shown immense courage in coming forward and giving evidence after decades of living with the impact of Jeffrey Donaldson's abuse.

"Child sexual abuse can have a serious and lasting impact on victims, and it is vital they receive the support they need to move forward with their lives.

“It is so important that anyone who has experienced sexual abuse as a child knows that if they speak out, they will be listened to and supported, regardless of who the perpetrator was or how long ago it took place."

• The former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of all 18 child sex abuse charges, including one charge of rape.
• The judge says Donaldson is now placed on the sex offenders' list and faces a lengthy prison sentence. The judge remanded Donaldson into custody with the words: "Take Mr Donaldson down."
• Lady Eleanor Donaldson, his wife, who faced a trial of the facts, was found to have done the acts. She faced five charges including four related to aiding and abetting. She cannot be found guilty.
• The DUP leader Gavin Robinson said his predecessor has been found guilty of the "most heinous and despicable crimes". He added regardless of the crime, "we will always be on the side of the victim".
• The First Minister praised the "immense courage" of the victims adding that no one should ever have to endure what they have experienced.
• Other politicians reacted as well, with the Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows saying Donaldson is "an absolute disgrace" with the Social Democratic and Labour Party's (SDLP) Claire Hanna saying that the focus should be on the victims who showed "jaw dropping courage." Alliance's Eoin Tennyson said that "no one is above the law".

Image source, PA Media

Writing on X, First Minister Michelle O'Neill commended the victims for their remarkable resilience and strength in securing justice.

"It is difficult to find words that fully capture the immense courage they have shown, not only throughout this deeply distressing court case, but across their lifetimes."

She wrote that no one should ever have to endure what they have experienced.

Like other political parties, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Gavin Robinson says Donaldson "should be stripped of his knighthood".

Donaldson was awarded a knighthood in 2016 for political service.

"Of course he should be stripped of his knighthood, and I would add to that membership of the Privy Council, as well. The full force of the law should be felt in this case," Robinson says.

"As a party we have moved on, but we recognise for victims that will be a much harder journey and that’s why our thoughts and prayers are with them today."

Gavin Robinson says that "as a consequence of his actions" Donaldson must "face the full force of the law".

He says: "We firmly believe in placing our faith in the rule of law. For us, everyone is equal to the law and equally subject to it. No one, regardless of their status or position, can be above the law."

Robinson says "Jeffrey Donaldson is no exception".

"Abuse, preying on the innocent and taking advantage of the vulnerability of children, in particular, is evil," he says.

"Jeffrey Donaldson’s lies and cover ups have been uncovered and the spotlight of justice spun upon them should serve as a reminder that perpetrators cannot outrun justice. Victims can and must triumph over the evil and darkness that pervaded their innocent lives."

The man who took over as Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader after Donaldson's arrest says his predecessor has been found guilty of the "most heinous and despicable crimes".

Speaking to the media this afternoon, Gavin Robinson says the party indicated over two years ago it would place its "faith in the criminal justice system to reach a verdict on the allegations made against him".

"Having reached that guilty verdict, we welcome the fact that justice has been done," he says.

Robinson says that today the his thoughts are "first and foremost with those innocent victims whose lives have been impacted the blighted by his predatory and repugnant behaviour".

"What they have been put through, from the initial abuse, through to the impact of having to give evidence and the inevitable traumatisation has been wicked," he says.

"The impact on the victims of having to come forward and to be forced by their perpetrator’s denials to give evidence in all the circumstances was cruel in the extreme," the DUP leader adds.

Image source, PA Media

Robinson says that "today, we stand with the victims of his abuse and we salute their bravery and their courage for speaking out".

"Regardless of the crime we will always be on the side of the victim and as a society we must do everything possible to encourage those who have been abused to come forward to the police and seek justice through our courts system," he says.

"In this case, it is our hope the victims will see this verdict as a vindication of speaking up and speaking truth against one who attempted to control, to manipulate and to silent."

SDLP leader Claire Hanna has said the focus should be on the victims who showed "jaw dropping courage".

She described the guilty verdicts as a good day for the justice system and that it proves nobody is off limits despite their status.

“Despite everything they went through in their lives, despite the mountain they had to climb going up against someone with every privilege in the world, they took their courage and they won," said Hanna.

She added that she hopes the verdicts will give other people going through similar experiences a "chink of light".

Hanna has also has written to the Cabinet Office asking that they immediately strip Donaldson’s knighthood.

The Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson says the victims who came forward against Donaldson showed ”enormous bravery,” despite the "glare of media spotlight".

"Today sends a message that no matter what the office you hold or the influence you have, no one is above the law," he adds.

Speaking now to all victims who have “suffered abuse”, Tennyson says “it is vital that they hear a message today, that they will be heard, that they will be believed and they will be supported".

Like Burrows before him, Tennyson is highlighting the importance of stripping Donaldson of his knighthood.

“I think it would be only appropriate that any honours would be stripped."

Image source, PA Media

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows says the former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson is an “absolute disgrace”.

Speaking in Stormont, Burrows paid tribute to the “brave victims” in the case, describing them as “heroes".

“I hope this sends a message to the vulnerable in our society that the law is there to protect them," Burrows said.

"No matter what your title, no matter what your status, no matter how much power you have in society, you are all equal under the law. Now we need to see Jeffrey Donaldson stripped of that title of Sir. He deserves nothing of that nature."

Donaldson began his political career in the UUP before defecting to the DUP in 2003.

Image source, PA Media

We have been reporting all of the movements at court but at Stormont the political parties have been giving their reaction to the verdict.

Speaking to the media, Sinn Féin MP John Finucane says his thoughts are with the victims.

“I think they deserve huge credit and continued support for the bravery that they have shown in putting themselves forward and stepping forward to give evidence to enter into the criminal justice process,” Finucane says.

“I think, firstly, all of our thoughts are with them on a day like today, that this can’t be easy.”

He says that “today’s verdict provides accountability".

“We hope that justice then will follow in the next exercise that the court will have, but it will not undo the horrific abuse that they suffered or the horrific experience I can only imagine they had to go through in giving evidence, as well,” he says.

“I think the immediate reaction, on behalf of everybody is with those victims and their loved ones.”

Sara Girvin
BBC News Ireland Correspondent

Image source, PA Media

Donaldson was awarded a knighthood in 2016.

Now that he is a convicted sex offender, there will be questions around that honour being withdrawn or forfeited.

The Forfeiture Committee is a Cabinet Office body that recommends whether an honour should be revoked.

It has been in existence for around 50 years and meets as necessary.

An honour can be withdrawn, or forfeited, for a variety of reasons, including criminal conviction and bringing the honours system into disrepute.

It automatically considers cases where an individual has been found guilty of a criminal offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than three months, has been found guilty of a sexual offence, or has been found to have committed a sexual offence following a ‘trial of the facts’.

Recommendations for forfeiture are submitted through the prime minister to the King. If the King gives his approval, a notice of forfeiture is usually placed in the London Gazette and on the gov.uk website.

If someone’s honour is forfeited, they will be asked to return their insignia to Buckingham Palace and can no longer make any reference to having an honour.

An individual can decide to renounce the honour voluntarily, but they would still hold it until it was annulled by the King.

Image source, Pacemaker

Jeffrey Donaldson has left Newry courthouse in a prison van.

The judge at Newry Crown Court said Donaldson faces a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty of the 18 charges he faced.

Image source, Reuters

Jeffrey Donaldson's political career is a tale of two Good Fridays – the first a pivotal turning point, the second a shocking end.

It was in 1998, the day the peace deal - the Good Friday Agreement - was signed, bringing an end to decades of conflict in Northern Ireland, that he walked out of talks over the decision of his Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) to support it.

Fast forward 26 years later, Good Friday 2024, and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Donaldson is charged with sexual abuse. He resigns as leader and then has his membership suspended by the party.

Our political correspondent Jayne McCormack looks back at Donaldson's life in politics.

Jeffrey Donaldson's victims have been referred to as Complainant A and Complainant B throughout the trial.

That's because alleged victims of sexual assault have a right to anonymity. This covers all aspects of life - from court reporting to comment sections and social media posts.

It means that comments and social media replies have been switched off on news reports about the Donaldson trial from the beginning.

And now that Donaldson has been found guilty and the trial has ended, this won't change.

The anonymity awarded to victims extends beyond the end of their life - 25 years after death to be exact.

That includes after a verdict, if the allegation is withdrawn, or even if the police decide not to take any further action.

The only way that they can be legally identified is if they choose to waive that right.

That hasn’t happened in this case, so to make sure no-one posts anything that could lead to identifying those involved, also known as jigsaw identification, some details have been left out of reporting.

Comments will also remain off on social media posts.

Police have confirmed they are actively investigating social media posts naming the complainants in this case, and are warning that anyone doing so could be subject to investigation and prosecution.

Donaldson was found guilty of rape, four counts of gross indecency and 13 counts of indecent assault against two women when they were children.

He pled not guilty to the 18 charges.

The offences occurred between 1985 and 2008.

His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, denied five charges, including four of aiding and abetting his offending.

At a pre-trial hearing last month, Eleanor Donaldson was declared unfit for a conventional trial on mental health grounds.

She did not participate in proceedings and instead faced a trial of the facts in her absence.