- 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.
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Protecting → publish → 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.
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they → give → women
Ian Acheson, who spent about a decade working for HM Prison Service, said Donaldson, the former Lagan Valley MP, faced risks from fellow inmates.
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Donaldson → spend → inmates
Acheson said Donaldson represented a "very complex challenge to the Northern Ireland Prison Service".
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Donaldson → say → Service
"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."
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who → be → minor
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.
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it → say → Regiment
"The prison has a duty of care to protect him and he is uniquely vulnerable," Acheson told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme.
"
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Acheson → have → 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.
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offenders → indicate → community
"I don't think that is remotely viable for Jeffrey Donaldson, given those offence characteristics and his background.
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that → think → characteristics
"So either he is kept, in effect, in conditions of solitary confinement for years and years or another solution has to be found.
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solution → keep → years
"I don't think it's acceptable to keep him in conditions of solitary confinement - it may not even be legal."
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it → think → confinement
Reading in his cell
Donaldson spends up to18 hours a day in his cell at Maghaberry, which holds about 1,600 inmates.
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which → read → 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.
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it → think → prisoners
He is believed to spend much of his day reading books from the prison library.
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He → believe → library
Acheson said there was a "precedent within the UK" to transfer prisoners within different jurisdictions, therefore Donaldson "could be potentially compulsorily transferred" to another jail.
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Donaldson → say → 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.
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He → convict → A.
During sentencing, Judge Paul Ramsey said Donaldson's crimes had led to a "catastrophic descent into disgrace".
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crimes → say → disgrace
Donaldson, who denied the charges, is seeking to appeal his convictions.
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who → deny → convictions
He will also be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
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He → require → life
Jeffrey Donaldson's time in politics began in 1985 when he was elected for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) as an MLA in South Down.
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he → begin → Down
In 1997, Donaldson became the MP for Lagan Valley, representing the UUP.
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Donaldson → become → UUP
He would remain an MP until 2024.
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He → remain → 2024
However, in 2003, he quit the UUP and defected to the DUP.
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he → quit → DUP
Donaldson was awarded a knighthood in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours list, and, in 2021, became leader of the DUP.
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Donaldson → award → DUP
He remained leader until March 2024, when he was charged with sexual offences of a historical nature.
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he → remain → nature
He was found guilty of all 18 child sex abuse charges, including one count of rape, in June 2026.
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He → find → June
Donaldson subsequently asked for his knighthood to be forfeited and tendered his resignation from the Privy Council with immediate effect.
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knighthood → ask → effect
In July, Donaldson was stripped of his knighthood by the King.
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Donaldson → strip → King
The Aporia
