Full Breakdown
Metropolitan Police Open Rape Investigation into Former DUP Leader Jeffrey Donaldson
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Metropolitan Police announced that it is investigating an allegation that former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson, now 63, raped a woman inside the UK Houses of Parliament in 2016. The investigation was triggered after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) referred the case to London authorities. No arrests have been made and the inquiry remains in its early stages.
Background & Context
Donaldson, who led the DUP from 2021 to 2024 and represented the Lagan Valley constituency from 1997, was sentenced in June 2026 to 15 years in prison for 18 historical sexual offences against two victims when they were children, including one count of rape. He has appealed the convictions, and his solicitor confirmed that appeal papers have been lodged. Following the conviction, Donaldson was stripped of his knighthood and removed from the Privy Council.
The new allegation was first reported by the *Belfast Telegraph* in July 2026. The woman, a resident of Northern Ireland, claimed that Donaldson invited her on a tour of the Commons, took her to dinner, and later to the DUP offices in Parliament where he offered her vodka shots, attempted to kiss her and placed his hand up her skirt. She has been interviewed by PSNI officers, who subsequently passed the report to the Met.
Timeline
- 2016 – Alleged rape takes place inside the Palace of Westminster.
- July 2026 – *Belfast Telegraph* reports the woman’s allegation of sexual assault by Donaldson.
- 13 October 2026 – The Met receives the PSNI-referred report (see quote below).
- 21 October 2026 – Media outlets confirm the Met’s investigation and note Donaldson’s recent 15-year sentence.
Data & Statistics
- Age of accused: 63 years.
- Number of historical convictions: 18 sexual offences (including one rape, 13 indecent assaults, four gross indecency).
- Sentence: 15 years imprisonment, half to be served in custody, half on licence.
- Victim support: The Met indicates the alleged victim is being assisted by specialist officers.
Official Statements & Responses
The Metropolitan Police issued a statement confirming receipt of the PSNI report and outlining the scope of the investigation. The force emphasized that the case is in its early stages, that no arrests have been made, and that the alleged victim is receiving specialist support. The PSNI confirmed it had interviewed the woman and forwarded the allegation to the Met because the alleged offence occurred in London.
Verbatim Quotes
- “On Tuesday October 13, the Met received a report, referred to us by Police Service of Northern Ireland, relating to an allegation of rape in 2016, by a man now aged 63.” — Northern Ireland. It
What’s Next
The Metropolitan Police have not set a public timetable for the investigation. The inquiry will continue to assess the allegation, with specialist officers supporting the victim. Donaldson’s legal team has indicated that appeal proceedings for his prior convictions are ongoing, but no comment has been made regarding the new allegation.
