Former DUP Leader Jeffrey Donaldson Under Investigation Over Alleged Rape Of Woman Inside UK Parliament | Sahara Reporters

The development comes days after Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex offences involving two victims, including one count of rape.

Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson is expected to be interviewed by London police over an allegation that he raped a woman inside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster in 2016, following a referral from Northern Ireland police.

The BBC reported on Wednesday that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had shared the woman’s allegations with the Metropolitan Police, which is investigating the alleged offence because it reportedly occurred in London.

The development comes days after Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex offences involving two victims, including one count of rape.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said it received a report from the PSNI on October 13 concerning an alleged rape in 2016 involving a man now aged 63. The force said the alleged victim was receiving support from specialist officers, adding that the investigation remained at an early stage.

“No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing,” the police said.

The woman had previously alleged that Donaldson sexually assaulted her in the DUP offices at Parliament in 2016. She claimed he encouraged her to drink vodka shots in his office before attempting to kiss her and putting his hand up her skirt.

The BBC subsequently revealed that the woman had also accused him of rape, a more serious allegation now being examined by London detectives.

The latest investigation follows Donaldson’s sentencing last week for a series of child sex offences committed between 1985 and 2008. The offences involved two victims and included one count of rape. Donaldson is seeking to appeal his convictions.

Donaldson, who represented the constituency of Lagan Valley in the House of Commons, led the DUP from 2021 until his resignation in March 2024 after being charged with historical sex offences in Northern Ireland. His departure ended his leadership of the party, which is one of the main political parties in Northern Ireland.

Concerns about Donaldson’s conduct in London were also raised in a Northern Ireland Spotlight investigation earlier this year. A former senior PSNI detective told the programme that he had seen Donaldson drunk in Parliament, while two other former police officers said they had seen him entering a gay sauna near Westminster.