Nothing relevant found about Donaldson’s time as junior minister

A review into sex offender Jeffrey Donaldson’s conduct during his time as a Stormont junior minister has concluded with “no relevant information” found.

The “scoping exercise” was launched by the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) last month with staff asked to come forward if they “experienced abuse or inappropriate behaviour”.

Donaldson, a former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), was convicted in June of 18 counts of sex abuse including one of rape, which he committed against two women when they were children. He is seeking to appeal.

The former MP was a junior minister at the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister from February 2008 until July 2009.

Jayne Brady, head of the NICS, commissioned the scoping exercise and arrangements were made for current and former staff to share any information “safely, confidentially and with appropriate support”.

The review concluded that “no information or disclosure relevant to the defined scope of the exercise was received through the confidential route”.

“No issue was identified requiring statutory referral, further NICS investigation, additional support action, or advice that a separate process was required,” it added.

A search of documents also found “no relevant NICS-held records”.

The report said the absence of records or disclosures “cannot establish that no relevant issue ever existed”.

On Wednesday, Brady told the Stormont assembly’s Executive Office committee the report was “fully delivered within the terms of reference that were defined”.

The review was one of several launched in the wake of the conviction of Donaldson, a former MP for the Lagan Valley constituency.

The DUP commissioned Jim Gamble, a child safety expert and former senior police officer, to lead an independent review into Donaldson’s behaviour while he was in that party.

Earlier this month, a review by the Northern Ireland Assembly into Donaldson’s conduct during his time at Stormont found “no relevant information” requiring further investigation.

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has also launched an independent safeguarding review into Donaldson’s conduct during his 21-year membership of the party.