Poots says he has 'nothing to answer for' over Donaldson concerns

Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots has said he has "nothing to answer for" over his handling of concerns a young woman raised about Jeffrey Donaldson's conduct.

He faced questions in the assembly on Monday over his response to the claims, which have surfaced in the wake of Donaldson's conviction for child sex offences.

Donaldson was convicted last week of 18 counts of sex abuse, including one count of rape, committed against two women when they were children.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is commissioning an independent review into issues raised in the wake of Donaldson's conviction.

A BBC Spotlight investigation revealed Poots and another senior DUP member were made aware of allegations from a woman who said she had been "exploited" by Donaldson.

Poots told assembly members (MLAs) his "integrity has been impugned".

He said there was "nothing of a criminal or safeguarding nature raised" and the woman was offered "support" but she did not wish to make a formal complaint.

A gay sauna visit and an 'exploited' young woman – the double life of Jeffrey Donaldson

"I have nothing to answer for because I did not engage in any activity to cover up anything or to do anything that was untoward," Poots said.

The former DUP leader added: "It was not my role to do something which she clearly and specifically said she didn't want taken further."

Poots also said he had asked the assembly's chief executive to conduct an investigation in relation to Donaldson's time in the assembly.

"This is an investigation which would allow potential victims of abuse by Jeffrey Donaldson to come forward."

Poots said he would also urge head of the Civil Service, Jayne Brady, and the Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to launch similar investigations.

On Friday, BBC Spotlight reported that not long before Donaldson became DUP leader in 2021, the then-North Antrim MP Ian Paisley said he was approached by a young woman who said she had been exploited by Donaldson and that he should not be allowed to lead the party.

Paisley said the woman did not want to make a formal complaint but he said he told Poots, when he was elected leader.

Paisley described her as a "victim" in a text to another politician during the DUP leadership contest between Donaldson and Poots in 2021.

In response, Poots told BBC Spotlight: "We observed at all times the wishes of the young woman."

Poots responded to questions on the matter during a sitting of the Stormont assembly on Monday.

He said that when he and Donaldson were campaigning to become DUP leader in 2021, a party colleague bro