Jeffrey Donaldson Faces New Rape Investigation After Child Sex Conviction

Jeffrey Donaldson, the former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), is now under investigation by the Metropolitan Police regarding an alleged rape that reportedly occurred within the UK Parliament in 2016[3][5][6]. This new inquiry follows his recent sentencing on October 15, 2026, to 15 years in prison for historical child sex offenses[2][3].

The dual allegations, spanning decades and involving serious sexual crimes, mark a profound fall from grace for a prominent political figure. The emergence of a new investigation for an alleged crime committed while Donaldson was a sitting Member of Parliament raises further questions about accountability within political institutions and deepens the public impact of his prior convictions.

New Allegation Emerges

On October 21, 2026, the Metropolitan Police confirmed it launched an investigation after receiving a report from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on October 13, 2026[5][6][7]. The report detailed an alleged rape in 2016 involving a man now aged 63, which matches Donaldson's age, and stated the incident took place inside the Palace of Westminster[5][6][7][10].

The alleged victim, a woman from Northern Ireland, was reportedly given a tour of the House of Commons by Donaldson, introduced to high-profile figures, and taken for dinner[5][8]. She was then brought into the DUP's offices in Parliament, where the alleged assault occurred[5][8]. The Met Police stated that the allegation relates to one victim, who is receiving support from specialist officers[5][6][10]. The investigation is in its early stages, and no arrests have been made[4][5][6][8][10]. The PSNI referred the case to the Metropolitan Police because the alleged offense took place in London[5][6][9].

Conviction and Sentencing

This new investigation comes just days after Donaldson's sentencing for child sex offenses. In June 2026, he was convicted of 18 counts of sexual offenses against two women when they were children, committed between 1985 and 2008[2][3][4][10]. The charges included one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault, and four counts of gross indecency[2][3][4]. On October 15, 2026, he received a 15-year prison sentence[2][3][7][11]. Judge Paul Ramsey described Donaldson's downfall as a “catastrophic descent into disgrace” during sentencing, noting that Donaldson had shown no “regret, apology or shame”[2][7][9]. Donaldson had denied all charges and his legal team has lodged papers to appeal his conviction[2][3][4][8]. His wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was charged with aiding and abetting in relation to the child sex offenses but was ruled unfit to stand trial due to mental health issues[2].

Political Downfall

Donaldson's political career spanned nearly 40 years, including serving as a Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley from 1997 and leading the DUP from 2021[1][3][10]. His leadership abruptly ended in March 2024 when he was arrested by the PSNI and charged with historical child sex offenses, leading to his immediate resignation as party leader[1][2][7][10]. Following his conviction, Donaldson was stripped of his knighthood and removed from the Privy Council in July 2026[1][3][4][7][8].

What We Could Not Confirm

We could not confirm any public statements made by Jeffrey Donaldson or his legal representatives specifically regarding the alleged 2016 rape in Parliament. The current specific location of Jeffrey Donaldson, beyond being in prison since his sentencing, was not confirmed.