An Upper Bann MLA has asked members who spoke before him on the subject of former DUP Leader, Jeffrey Donaldson’s sentencing “have you any morality?” as he accused them of using the trauma caused by the convicted paedophile for political point scoring.
DUP MLA, Jonathan Buckley stood as the third speaker on the Assembly floor on Monday (October 19) in a plenary session for members to speak to the disgraced former leader’s seven-and-a-half year sentence for committing 18 serious sex offences against women, when they were children.
Mid Ulster’s Sinn Féin MLA, Linda Dillon rose first. After speaking to Donaldson’s victims’ bravery and advocacy, the MLA called for their continued anonymity, stressing the importance of this being respected by all.
Ms Dillon then discussed how Donaldson abused his positions of power and called for further investigations and discussions to take place both on NI soil and in Westminster around whether there were “lessons that could be learned” by the Executive Office.
She also addressed the DUP review into the Donaldson case announced in July, saying “we have not yet seen a report or an update”.
Following Dillon, the TUV’s Timothy Gaston also shared his admiration of Donaldson’s victims. He expressed his sympathy for those women and all others across Northern Ireland who have “suffered at the hands of paedophiles and perverts”.
However, Mr Gaston then moved onto voicing his belief that the “sordid affair” of the Donaldson case had “damaged trust in politics”.
Said the MLA: “Donaldson’s political legacy isn’t one of the character that he created and played out through his lifetime, it isn’t one of advancing unionism.
“His political legacy is the restoration of this place based upon lies and deceit. Indeed, we are only sitting here today because Jeffrey Donaldson, while he was Leader of the DUP, did a deal with the then government… a deal which claimed the Irish Sea border was gone, a deal which claimed that Northern Ireland’s position within the UK was restored, a deal which we all know, like the life of Jeffrey Donaldson, was a tissue of lies.”
Moving onto the “monumental deceit” of Donaldson, Mr Gaston added: “What did the British government know of Donaldson’s double life during the negotiations that restored this place? While members of the DUP may not have known of Donaldson’s double life they would have known, like the rest of us, that the Donaldson deal was nothing but a sham.”
Then it was Mr Buckley’s turn to speak and the MLA seized the opportunity to address both MLAs’ statements, with strong condemnation.
First and foremost the MLA said Donaldson “deserves severy single day of his sentence and much more for his crimes against innocent women”.
But he then spoke of being “appalled” by what he felt was “mere lip service” to Donaldson’s victims from both Sinn Féin and “sadly” the TUV representative, who he accused of using the victims’ experiences to “further their own political ends”.
Said Mr Buckley: “I do not say that with any pleasure. I think that is a disgrace at the most highest level.
“We need to see responsibility where there is women in today’s society that are suffering, that have had to listen to what has been an horrendous ordeal in courts, only to watch political reps come to this chamber to try to score political points.
“Have you any morality?”
Recalling the victims’ statements following the Crown Court sentencing, the MLA continued: “These young women… victim A and victim B… both are on record expressing the pain and anguish that they both have felt at the hands of a perverted, self-centered demon.
“Members, no words in this chamber will come even close to the experiences these victims have put down, not only on paper, but through a lengthy court ordeal, where there are people even to this day continuing to speculate to their identity. There are victims at the heart of this.
“There are others across NI, let’s bear that in mind today when we talk about women and their experiences at the hands of monsters.”
The MLA concluded by asking all members in the chamber to keep their thoughts focused on those women and all those who continue to suffer.
Later, as a Point of Order, MLA Linda Dillon said she felt Mr Buckley had “written his statement” before she had spoken hers and had so much a guessed her stance.
“He reflected entirely incorrectly everything that I said in my commentary,” she said. “I will not accept that. I was absolutely clear about my position in relation to victims and about the abuse of positions of trust and power.
“That has been specifically outlined not only by those victims but by many other victims of those in positions of trust and power across society. I would like the Deputy Speaker to reflect on that.”
In response, Mr Buckley asserted that he had “no pre-planned remarks” and “spoke from my heart and for the victims in that case”. He refused to issue an apology.
Mr Gaston also rose to speak during Points of Order but instead of addressing Buckley’s remarks on his statement he instead spoke to suggestions that “feelings” of the Provisional IRA were taken into consideration by the Chief Constable in relation to Drumcree decision making.
This point was immediately halted by the Deputy Speaker who said “it was most certainly was not a point of order, nor did it relate to what was discussed previously”.
Ms Dillon and Mr Buckley’s points raised will be taken to the Speaker for consideration.
