Northern Ireland Assembly Speaker and former DUP leader, Edwin Poots, has said his thoughts and prayers are with the victims of Jeffrey Donaldson's abuse, following the former DUP leader's conviction for child sex offences.
In a statement, Poots referenced Jesus' warning about those who harm children.
"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'," he said.
Poots said Donaldson would have time in prison to reflect on "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," he said.
The Assembly Speaker also claimed he had previously found Donaldson to be untruthful, although he said he could never have imagined the scale of the offences.
"I found Donaldson out on lies too many times over many years, though I could never have imagined he could have been so depraved," he said.
Poots reserved his strongest praise for the victims, describing them as having shown "honesty, resilience, strength and integrity" throughout the case.
"My heart goes out to the victims of his abuse," he said. "I hope they have peace. He may have broke them as children but failed to break them as adults."
He added that the victims had been in his prayers since Donaldson's arrest and would continue to be remembered in the days ahead.
On Monday, a jury at Newry Crown Court found Donaldson guilty of one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency against two complainants at dates between 1985 and 2008. He denied all charges.
The judge remanded Donaldson in custody, ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders register and said he faces a lengthy prison sentence for his offences.
Donaldson was taken away from Newry courthouse in a prison van and is due to be sentenced in September.
