Jeffrey Donaldson renounces knighthood, quits Privy Council

Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson has formally renounced his knighthood and resigned from the Privy Council following his conviction for historic sexual offences. The actions were confirmed on Wednesday by his solicitor, John McBurney.

Donaldson, 63, was found guilty on Monday by a jury at Newry Crown Court of 18 sexual offences, including assault, indecent assault, and gross indecency, committed against two women when they were children between 1985 and 2008. He had denied the charges during the trial. Judge Paul Ramsey told Donaldson he can expect a lengthy prison term when sentenced at a later date.

In a statement, McBurney said he had issued letters signed by Donaldson to the Cabinet Office requesting the forfeiture of his knighthood and to the Privy Council Office tendering his immediate resignation. Donaldson was knighted in 2016 and had been a member of the Privy Council, a formal advisory body to the monarch, since 2007.

The move came after calls from political leaders, including current DUP leader Gavin Robinson and Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows, for Donaldson to be stripped of the titles. The Traditional Unionist Voice party stated that...