Edwin Poots accuses Jeffrey Donaldson of ‘destroying the innocence of children’

He also claimed to have found “Donaldson out on lies too many times over many years”.

The speaker also paid tribute to the victims adding: “He may have broken them as children but failed to break them as adults.

“My heart goes out to the victims of his abuse. They demonstrated honesty, resilience, strength and integrity. I hope they have peace.”

Poots was replaced by Donaldson as leader of the DUP in 2021 after a bitter split within the party. Poots had been leader for just three weeks.

Meanwhile, Stormont parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly have condemned Donaldson as a “fraudulent monster” who abused positions of power and trust by committing child sex abuse.

Speaking at Stormont on Tuesday during a matter of the day debate on his conviction, MLAs described him as having led a “double and duplicitous life”, and paid tribute to the victims for having “courage to speak the truth”.

All the parties also called for Donaldson to be stripped of his knighthood and removed from membership of the Privy Council.

Donaldson has been expelled from the Orange Order.

A spokesman said: “We do not comment on individual cases.

“However, 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.”