Jeffrey Donaldson quits as DUP chief in bombshell for Northern Ireland
The DUP said in a statement that Jeffrey Donaldson had resigned as party leader “with immediate effect”. | Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Unionist party said Donaldson was out “with immediate effect” after being charged by police.
DUBLIN — Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, resigned Friday after being charged by police with “non-recent sexual offences” — a political shock that could destabilize Northern Ireland’s just-revived government.
Donaldson, 61, was arrested Thursday and charged Thursday night. In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland arrested and charged a 61-year-old man for non-recent sexual offences.”
The DUP said in a statement that Donaldson had resigned as party leader “with immediate effect.” It said Donaldson had confirmed the charges against him in a letter to the party’s chairman. That ends his nearly three-year reign atop Northern Ireland’s main pro-British party.
