DUP seeks to distance party from ‘wicked deceiver’ Jeffrey Donaldson

The Democratic Unionist party has denounced Jeffrey Donaldson as a “wicked deceiver” who led a “double and duplicitous life” a day after its former leader was convicted of child sexual offences . Leaders at the Stormont assembly on Tuesday sought to distance the DUP from Donaldson and described him as a manipulator who had hoodwinked Northern Ireland and hid his crimes behind a facade of respectability and Christian faith. “Jeffrey Donaldson abused positions of trust and power over many years while concealing vile and manipulative behaviour,” the DUP deputy leader, Michelle McIlveen, told the assembly. “It is now clear that Jeffrey Donaldson led a double and duplicitous life.” Jonathan Buckley, a DUP assembly member, said the party had been led by an “evil sexual predator”, a “fraudulent monster” and a “wicked deceiver” who concealed his true nature. The sincerity of revulsion is not in question but analysts noted the DUP is facing a battle to dissociate itself from Donaldson before local and assembly elections next year. The denunciations came as the former Lagan Valley MP spent his first full day at Maghaberry, a high-security prison in county Antrim. There is speculation he may be moved to a prison in Great Britain, where he would have a lower profile among prisoners. …