Jeffrey Donaldson stripped of knighthood by King
Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been stripped of his knighthood by the King.
Donaldson, who was an MP from 1997 to 2024. Convicted of 18 sexual abuse charges in June Including a rape he committed against two women as a child.
After his conviction He asked to be removed from the Privy Council and for the loss of his knighthood.
An announcement was made on Thursday Published in the newspaper – one of the United Kingdom’s official journals of record – states that Charles III directed the revocation of Donaldson’s knighthood.
The notice, issued by the Central Chancellery of the Orders of Chivalry, stated: “THE KING orders the revocation and annulment of the knighthood conferred on Jeffrey Mark Donaldson as a Knight Bachelor on 11 June 2016.”
It was Donaldson Received this honor in the Queen’s Birthday Honors List In 2016.
he was removed from the Privy Councilwho gave advice to the ruler in early July.
The loss of his knighthood means that his wife, Eleanor Donaldson, loses the title of Lady Donaldson.
He faced a trial of facts on mental health grounds, meaning the jury was asked to find out whether he committed the acts he was accused of.
They found that she carried out the actions related to all five charges, including aiding and abetting her husband’s crime.
Appeal papers submitted
DUP commissioned independent review Back to Donaldson’s time at the party.
Was a member before The Ulster Unionist Party has announced it will appoint an independent, external body to create a process for people to share information confidentially about Jeffrey Donaldson during his time at the party.
Donaldson was unanimously convicted on all charges by a jury of seven men and five women at Newry Crown Court.
The judge told him the sentence would be long.
It has since been confirmed will appeal their convictions.
His legal team submitted the papers to the Court of Appeal in Belfast on July 17.
An attempt to overturn the convictions is unlikely to result in a conviction.
The process will include a hearing at which leave to appeal will either be granted or refused; It is estimated that this may happen in September.
If permission is granted, a full hearing will be held at a later stage.
How to get the title of knight?
A title such as a knighthood can be removed on the recommendation of a body known as the Confiscation Committee if the holder is deemed to have brought the honor system into disrepute.
Recommendations for the abolition of the honor are considered by the committee, and if the committee agrees to abolish an honour, the recommendation is forwarded to the King through the prime minister.
If the King gives his approval, a notice will normally be published in the Gazette.
The honoree is then asked to return his decorations to Buckingham Palace and can no longer use the title or nominal letters.
