At an emergency meeting, the party suspended the membership of Donaldson – who is to appear in court next month – and appointed its deputy leader, Gavin Robinson, as interim leader.
A DUP statement said: “The party chairman has received a letter from Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP confirming that he has been charged with allegations of an historical nature and indicating that he is stepping down as leader of the Democratic Unionist party with immediate effect.
“In accordance with the party rules, the party officers have suspended Mr Donaldson from membership, pending the outcome of a judicial process.”
The Lagan Valley MP, 61, deleted his X, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts and the party removed his image from its website.
Police issued a statement saying a 61-year-old man had been charged on Thursday with “non-recent sexual offences” and that a 57-year-old woman had been charged with aiding and abetting additional offences. They are to appear before Newry magistrates court in County Down on 24 April.
The abrupt end of Donaldson’s leadership stunned Northern Ireland and will jolt the British and Irish governments.
Robinson said he and other party leaders learned of the charges on Thursday night. “It’s been a devastating revelation and has caused tremendous shock,” he told Sky News.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin March 30, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin March 30, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Marler exited England camp before his call to scrap haka
Joe Marler left the England camp preparing for the autumn internationals opener, against the All Blacks on Saturday, for personal reasons at the start of the week before provoking a fierce backlash in New Zealand by calling for the haka to be scrapped.
Stokes family's ordeal Captain reveals masked gang burgled home while on tour
Ben Stokes, the England Test captain, has said his house was burgled this month while his wife and two children were present and he was away on the tour of Pakistan.
Fifa in dispute with Adidas and Coke over Club World Cup
Fifa is in dispute with its long-term partners Adidas and Coca-Cola over sponsorship rights for the Club World Cup next year in the US.
Werner and Sarr strike early as rapid Spurs catch City by surprise
Tottenham had threatened to win at a canter. Two goals up after 25 minutes, there was almost disbelief within the home crowd and not only because Timo Werner had scored the first.
Isak makes Maresca pay for shuffling Chelsea's pack
Hope is alive and kicking at Newcastle after all. Just as Eddie Howe's players seemed to be sliding towards mediocrity, a place in the Carabao Cup's last eight changed an entire narrative.
Gakpo double keeps Liverpool on course for trophy defence
The Arne Slot roadshow continues to impress. Cody Gakpo's quickfire double helped the Liverpool manager make it seven wins from his first eight away matches in all competitions as the holders moved into the quarterfinals despite making wholesale changes on the south coast.
United shake off Ten Hag's reign with five-star Victory
Ruud van Nistelrooy may never lead Manchester United in cup competition again, so ending on the right end of a 5-2 goal fest as the interim manager can warm in his dotage.
Nwaneri delivers again as Arsenal showcase top-flight dominance
Arsenal had a European Championship winner on parade in Jorginho, the Champions League-winning Kai Havertz and the four-time Premier League champion Raheem Sterling making life a misery for Preston, but one name rang out above all from the away end at Deepdale: Ethan Nwaneri.
Kamada gives Palace win but Eze limps off injured
Just as reports started surfacing that Oliver Glasner had until the approaching international break to safeguard a job he started so brilliantly only eight months ago, so Crystal Palace go and win successive games.
Draper rolls into last 16 by taking down world No 6
The two previous times Jack Draper and Taylor Fritz faced each other this year, their encounters ended in similar ways.