Former DUP leader Edwin Poots says he found Jeffrey Donaldson out on lies 'many times' over the years

​Edwin Poots, now Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, said Donaldson had to forced his victims to relive the trauma he perpetuated on them, while accusing them of lying.

When Mr Poots was elected for a brief stint as DUP leader in 2021, Jeffrey Donaldson was among those who left the party meeting early. He even considered defecting back to the Ulster Unionist Party, before later denying it.

Edwin Poots resigned after just 21 days, and was replaced by Donaldson.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Mr Poots said: “The Lord Jesus Christ said of those who harm children ‘that it would be better for them if a millstone was put around their neck and they were cast in the depth of the sea’.

“Jeffrey Donaldson has spent his first night in prison, he will have many more to come with time to contemplate the enormity of his crimes against young girls. He destroyed the innocence of children, having been faced with the consequences of his actions he chose to lie, to force them to relive the trauma he perpetuated on them, and accuse his victims of lying.

“I found Donaldson out on lies too many times over many years, though I could never have imagined he could have been so depraved.

“My heart goes out to the victims of his abuse. They demonstrated honesty, resilience, strength and integrity. I hope they have peace. He may have broke them as children but failed to break them as adults. They have been in my prayers since his arrest and will continue to remember them in the days ahead”.

TUV leader Jim Allister hit out at the comments about Donaldson’s “lies” – saying “did the same Edwin Poots not ride into the Speakership on the back of Donaldson’s Irish Sea border lies? From Seismic Poots to Speaker Poots! Many who nodded to his lies now trying to distance themselves”, he said.

In 2023, Mr Poots said “something seismic” was needed from the Government on the Irish Sea border for a DUP Stormont return.