Who is Jeffrey Donaldson?DUP leader charged with historic sex crimes

Sir Geoffrey Donaldson has resigned as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party immediately after the party said he had been hit with historic charges.

Northern Ireland’s longest-serving MP has been suspended pending the outcome of legal proceedings, while Gavin Robinson has been appointed interim party leader.

His resignation will have huge consequences for British and Irish politics, and comes just weeks after he moved to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland after nearly two years of protests.

independent Looks at the life and career of this influential trade unionist.

Sir Geoffrey was born in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland’s southernmost town in County Down. He spoke of growing up in the Morne area, the eldest of five boys and three girls, attending the local Presbyterian church and having a “traditional, rural, family-centred upbringing”.

But he also said his childhood innocence was “shattered” by the outbreak of trouble. “I distinctly remember the murder of my cousin, CPS Constable Samuel Donaldson, which happened yesterday,” he explained.

Samuel Donaldson was one of Sir Geoffrey’s two cousins ​​who were killed by the Provisional IRA while serving in the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

At 16 Sir Geoffrey joined the Orange Order and two years later he became involved in the Young Unionist movement.

He subsequently served in Kilkeel Company, 3rd Battalion, Ulster Defense Regiment (3 UDR), rising to the rank of Corporal.

Sir Geoffrey has been married to his wife Eleanor for more than 25 years and they have two daughters. He resigned after nearly 40 years in politics.

He began his career with the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), becoming the youngest elected member of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1985 at the age of 22.

But the 61-year-old’s relationship with former UUP leader David Trimble soured when he led the withdrawal from 1998 peace talks over his opposition to the early release of republican and loyalist prisoners.

He left the party in January 2004 and joined the Democratic Unionist Party, becoming party leader in July 2021 following the resignation of Edwin Poots.

He initially offered to become leader after Arlene Foster was ousted due to intra-party turmoil, but narrowly won the DUP’s first leadership election a few months ago Defeated by Putz.

He was recognized by the Queen in the 2016 Birthday Honors and was knighted for his political contributions.

Under Sir Geoffrey’s leadership, the party launched a two-year boycott of Northern Ireland’s political institutions in protest of post-Brexit trading arrangements.

He held the leadership post during a turbulent period for the Democratic Unionist Party, which boycotted Northern Ireland’s political institutions in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Unionists have long protested demands for checks on goods shipped between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, saying they create an Irish Sea border.

Sir Geoffrey disbanded the Stormont power-sharing body in 2022, believing the government was not responding quickly enough to his concerns.

After protracted negotiations, the party agreed to return to Stormont in February after agreeing a new deal on trading arrangements and adopting a series of measures aimed at guaranteeing Northern Ireland’s constitutional place in the UK.

His resignation has set off a leadership battle and any fallout could have huge consequences for politics in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The DUP faces intense pressure from Sinn Féin, the most popular party in the Republic of Ireland ahead of next March’s general election.

In February this year, Northern Ireland’s first republican, Michelle O’Neill, was sworn in as First Minister.

After taking office, Ms O’Neill said she expected a vote on Irish unity within the next decade.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said Irish unity was now “within reach”.