DUP urged to be 'open and transparent' amid new claims over Jeffrey Donaldson

North's first minister Michelle O’Neill said there were 'lots of questions' for the DUP to answer amid further claims of sexual assault against its former leader

The Belfast Telegraph reported on Tuesday a woman has now complained to police that Donaldson sexually assaulted her in DUP offices at Westminster in 2016.

The North's first minister, Michelle O’Neill, has called on the DUP to be “open and transparent” about what party figures knew of Jeffrey Donaldson’s crimes.

Donaldson was last month convicted of sex offences against two women when they were children, including one count of rape. 

The Belfast Telegraph reported on Tuesday a woman has now complained to police that Donaldson sexually assaulted her in DUP offices at Westminster in 2016.

It was also reported deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly warned the woman that Donaldson, now a convicted paedophile, was a “danger” to her. 

Ms Little-Pengelly has rejected the claim.

Speaking in Dublin, Ms O’Neill said the DUP needed to be “open and transparent” about what was known within the party and when.

“From Jeffrey Donaldson’s conviction for the most heinous and ugly crimes, what we are seeing is a drip-feed of story after story of who knew what within the DUP,” she said.

“It is very clear that Jeffrey Donaldson led a double life. Even more serious than that, it is very clear this man was a predator towards young women."

Ms O'Neill said over the last 48 hours, there have been more stories and more people stepping forward to say they were victims of Jeffrey Donaldson.

She said there were “lots of questions” for the DUP to answer.

“I think it is very, very important that they step forward, they answer the questions as to who knew what, when they knew it, who they spoke to about it, when it was reported.”

Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey also said the public was “entitled to answers”.

“The DUP cannot hide behind their own self-styled review to avoid scrutiny,” she said. 

“These serious questions cannot simply be brushed aside.” 

The DUP has commissioned an independent review into issues arising from Donaldson's conviction.