Police Investigate Donaldson Over Alleged Parliament Rape

London's Metropolitan Police are investigating an allegation that former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson raped a woman inside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster in 2016. The investigation followed a referral from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which interviewed the woman before passing her allegations to London police.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed on October 13 that it had received a report concerning an alleged rape involving a man aged 63. Although the force did not name Donaldson, the investigation concerns allegations involving the former Northern Irish politician, according to reports by the BBC, The Guardian and RTÉ published October 21.

Police said the inquiry remains at an early stage, no arrests have been made, and specialist officers are supporting the alleged victim. Investigators have not publicly announced any findings regarding the allegation.

Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier in October for historical sexual offenses against two victims who were children at the time. According to RTÉ, he was convicted of 18 offenses, including one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency, committed between 1985 and 2008.

His solicitor has previously confirmed that papers have been lodged seeking an appeal against those convictions. The new investigation concerns a separate allegation relating to an incident said to have occurred in 2016.

According to reporting by The Guardian and the BBC, the woman is from Northern Ireland and previously alleged that Donaldson sexually assaulted her in DUP offices inside Parliament. The Belfast Telegraph first reported the allegations in July, saying the woman claimed he invited her to drink vodka shots in his office before attempting to kiss her and put his hand up her skirt.

The Belfast Telegraph also reported that Donaldson took the woman on a tour of the House of Commons, introduced her to prominent figures and later went to dinner with her before bringing her to the DUP's parliamentary offices. The Guardian reported that the woman also received a photograph of Donaldson during the COVID-19 lockdown, accompanied by a message about returning to the outside world after isolation.

The Metropolitan Police outlined the scope and status of its inquiry in a statement issued after receiving the referral from Northern Ireland police.

"On Tuesday 13 October, the Met received a report referred to us by the Police Service of Northern Ireland relating to an allegation of rape in 2016, by a man now aged 63. The allegation relates to one victim who is being supported by specialist officers. The investigation is in its early stages. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing." the Metropolitan Police said.

Donaldson led the DUP from 2021 to 2024. His political career ended amid the criminal proceedings that resulted in his recent prison sentence.

The BBC also reported that a former senior PSNI detective had seen Donaldson intoxicated inside the Houses of Parliament. Two other former senior PSNI detectives said they had seen him enter a gay sauna near Parliament in 2006, the same year Donaldson publicly described homosexuality as "sinful".

The Metropolitan Police investigation into the alleged 2016 rape remains ongoing, and authorities have not announced any arrests in connection with the case.