The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is to review its safeguarding procedures and set up an independent process for people to confidentially share information about Jeffrey Donaldson during his time in the party.
Donaldson was convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse against two women when they were children.
He was a member of the UUP from 1985 to 2003, before joining the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) where he became leader.
Donaldson is awaiting sentencing. His legal team announced last week that he plans to appeal against the convictions.
UUP leader Jon Burrows told the BBC that Donaldson “lived his life as a political fraud and he raised himself up to the highest echelons of political life”.
Burrows told Good Morning Ulster the party has established a “rapid review” but they “can’t find” any records of complaints or concerns raised about Donaldson. The party stated that “the absence of a record does not mean there is nothing further to be established”.
The DUP has also commissioned a review into its former leader.
Donaldson told Premier Christianity magazine in 2021 about how his Christian faith sustained him through his political career.
