'Massive challenge' to protect Donaldson from harm in jail

- Published

Protecting convicted paedophile Jeffrey Donaldson from harm inside jail will be a "massive risk-management headache" for prison bosses, according to a former governor.

The ex-Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader was given a 15-year sentence on Thursday after being convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse, including rape, against two women when they were children.

He is serving his sentence at Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn but will spend only half of his term behind bars.

Ian Acheson, who worked for HM Prison Service for about a decade, said the former Lagan Valley MP faced risks from fellow inmates.

Donaldson represents a "very complex challenge to the Northern Ireland Prison Service", Acheson added.

"There are always hierarchies within prisons - and there are even hierarchies within sex offenders - and the lowest of the low and the most vulnerable in terms of hostility from others are those who've been convicted of sexual violence against a minor," he said.

But he said it would also be necessary to "examine potential political or sectarian targeting" relating to Donaldson's leadership of the DUP and his service in the Ulster Defence Regiment, a former Army unit.

"The prison has a duty of care to protect him and he is uniquely vulnerable," Acheson told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme.

"Maghaberry, in previous inspections, has indicated that it operates an integrated regime, where sex offenders can be safely managed in the wider prison community.

"I don't think that is remotely viable for Jeffrey Donaldson, given those offence characteristics and his background.

"So either he is kept, in effect, in conditions of solitary confinement for years and years or another solution has to be found.

"I don't think it's acceptable to keep him in conditions of solitary confinement - it may not even be legal."

Reading in his cell

Donaldson spends up to 18 hours a day in his cell at Maghaberry Prison, which holds about 1,600 inmates.

It is thought he has been put in the Moyola Unit, which primarily houses prisoners with health issues, for his own safety as it isolates him from risk of attack or verbal abuse from other prisoners.

He is believed to spend much of his day reading books from the prison library.

Acheson said the disgraced former politician was "entitled to protection but he's not entitled to special, preferential treatment".

There was a "precedent within the UK" to transfer prisoners within different jurisdictions, Acheson added - therefore Donaldson "could be potentially compulsorily transferred" to another jail.

Donaldson was convicted in June of sex offences against two females referred to in his trial as Victim A and Victim B.

He was sentenced to 11 years for his crimes against Victim B and four years for offences against Victim A.

He will also be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

During sentencing, Judge Paul Ramsey said Donaldson's crimes had led to a "catastrophic descent into disgrace".

Donaldson, who denied the charges, is seeking to appeal his convictions.

Should his attempt to appeal fail, he will be released from prison at the end of 2033.

He qualifies for a 50% remission in his sentence because the offences were committed before the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 came into effect.

The remainder of his sentence will be served under supervision in the community on licence.

Who is Jeffrey Donaldson?

Donaldson's time in politics began in 1985 when he was elected for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) as a member of the Stormont assembly for South Down.

In 1997, Donaldson became the MP for Lagan Valley, representing the UUP. He would remain an MP until 2024.

However, in 2003 he quit the UUP and defected to the DUP.

Donaldson was awarded a knighthood in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours list, and, in 2021, became leader of the DUP.

He remained the party's leader until March 2024, when he was charged with a series of historical sexual offences against children.

After his conviction this year, Donaldson asked for his knighthood to be forfeited and tendered his resignation from the Privy Council with immediate effect.

In July, King Charles stripped Donaldson of his knighthood.