Convicted paedophile Jeffrey Donaldson has asked for his knighthood to be forfeited, days after he was found guilty on 18 counts of child sex abuse. The 63-year-old has also tendered his resignation from the Privy Council, the body that advises the British monarch, with immediate effect. The former DUP leader was convicted on Monday, of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, against two women when they were children, reports BelfastLive. Donaldson’s solicitor John McBurney said in a statement: “I have this afternoon issued
a letter signed by Jeffrey Donaldson to the Cabinet Office indicating his request to renounce and forfeit his knighthood. “I have also this afternoon issued a letter signed by Jeffrey Donaldson to the Privy Council office tending his resignation from the Privy Council with immediate effect.” Jeffrey Donaldson was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom in 2007, and was knighted in the 2016 birthday honours. A knighthood can be revoked in certain circumstances in a process known as
“forfeiture”, and is reserved for cases where someone who has received an honour is considered to have brought the honours system into disrepute. If a knighthood is forfeited, the recipient loses the right to use the title “Sir”. READ MORE: Nikita Hand thanks singer Pink for support as she criticises Conor McGregor appearance on US Tonight Show READ MORE: Teen killed in Donegal rally tragedy remembered for ‘mischievous smile and twinkle in eye’ The decision is considered by the Honours Forfeiture Committee. The committee is
made up of senior civil servants and independent members and examines cases where concerns have been raised about recipients of honours. After reviewing the evidence, the committee can recommend that an honour should be forfeited. Its recommendation is then submitted to the Prime Minister and ultimately approved by the King. Government guidance states that forfeiture is normally considered when an honours recipient receives a prison sentence of three months or more.
Jeffrey Donaldson, knighthood forfeiture, Privy Council resignation, Honours Forfeiture Committee, DUP leader, child sex abuse conviction, Sir