Donaldson's downfall shakes NI's battle-hardened political landscape

Donaldson's first night in prison as downfall shakes NI politicsImage source, PA MediaImage caption, On Monday, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of all 18 sex abuse charges he facedByEnda McClaffertyBBC News NI political editorPublished23 June 2026, 00:02 BSTUpdated 2 hours agoJeffrey Donaldson has spent his first night behind bars in Maghaberry Prison.It is a place he knows well having visited it many times as the local MP.But never did he think one day that cell door would close behind him and his liberty would be gone.He has been told to expect a "lengthy sentence" for a string of child sex crimes including rape.He will face up to 12 hours a day in the cell which he may have to share with another inmate.According to prison sources he was kept under tight observation through his first night.Ex DUP leader Donaldson guilty of child sex abuse charges including one of rapePublished21 hours agoJeffrey Donaldson's life in politics: From DUP leader to convicted child sex abuserPublished1 day agoHow four weeks in court unravelled 'sinful and deceitful' Jeffrey DonaldsonPublished1 day agoOn Tuesday he had his breakfast on the landing with other prisoners on the wing.That will have been a sobering moment for Donaldson and he is likely to attract lots of attention from the other prisoners.Not all of it positive.His mobile phone will have been taken and he will have little contact with the outside world.He will be able to use the phones on the landings and will be entitled to one visit every four weeks.His dramatic downfall has shaken Northern Ireland's battle-hardened political landscape to its core.It also triggered a political earthquake at the heart of the largest unionist party - the DUP, which it has still not fully recovered from.The man known affectionately within unionist circles as just "Jeffrey" is now facing the humiliation of spending a lengthy period in prison and having his many honours stripped away with his r...