Burrows: Courage of Survivors Met With Full Weight of Justice

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA has paid tribute to the brave survivors of Jeffrey Donaldson following his sentencing today to 15 years in prison for the sexual abuse of two children, saying the sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes and the lifelong harm he inflicted.

Jon Burrows MLA said:

“Jeffrey Donaldson has today been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the sexual abuse of two children. The sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes and the lifelong harm he inflicted on his victims. My thoughts remain with the two brave women whose courage brought him to justice, and with their families.

“No sentence can give back what was taken from them. But today’s outcome is the clearest possible statement that no office, no status and no reputation places anyone above the law, and that the courage of victims who come forward will be met with the full weight of justice.

“Beyond this case, the example these two women have set has already reached other survivors of historical abuse. Charities and support organisations have reported an increase in calls from people who drew strength from their example to seek help and to report what happened to them. That is a profound service to the whole community, and one that will long outlast this case.

“The Ulster Unionist Party’s own Independent Safeguarding Review into Donaldson’s years within our party continues under Anne Marks, and the party will act on whatever it finds.”