Image supply, Getty/Charles McQuillan
The DUP occasion officers have suspended Sir Jeffrey from the occasion
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has been charged with historic sexual offences and has resigned as Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader.
A 57-year-old lady has additionally been charged with aiding and abetting in reference to the alleged offences.
They had been each arrested on Thursday morning by PSNI detectives and had been questioned earlier than being charged on Thursday night time.
They at the moment are on account of seem in court docket subsequent month.
In a press release the DUP stated: “The Party Chairman has obtained a letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP confirming that he has been charged with allegations of an historic nature and indicating that he’s stepping down as Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party with quick impact.
“In accordance with the Party Rules, the Party Officers have suspended Mr Donaldson from membership, pending the end result of a judicial course of.
“The Party Officers have this morning unanimously appointed Mr Gavin Robinson MP as the Interim Party Leader.”
Police issued a press release on Friday morning, however didn’t disclose the identification of these charged.
The assertion stated a 61-year-old man had been charged with “non-recent sexual offences” including {that a} 57-year-old lady was additionally arrested on the similar time and charged with “aiding and abetting additional offences”.
The assertion additionally confirmed the pair would seem earlier than Newry Magistrates’ Court on 24 April.
It is known DUP officers met on Friday morning after particulars of the charges emerged.
Sir Jeffrey’s social media accounts, together with on X, had been deleted in a single day.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was elected leader of the DUP in 2021.
He can be the longest serving MP in Northern Ireland having been first elected to Parliament in 1997.
Sir Jeffrey not too long ago steered his occasion again in to authorities in Northern Ireland ending a two 12 months boycott of the Stormont establishments.
The DUP had walked out of presidency in protest on the Northern Ireland Protocol, claiming the post-Brexit preparations had undermined their place within the UK.
Sir Jeffrey was first elected to parliament in 1997 as a consultant of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).
In 2003, following long-standing opposition to the Good Friday Agreement and the management of David Trimble, he introduced he would go away the UUP, later becoming a member of the DUP.
He was awarded a knighthood in 2016 for political service.
