The first thing to remember, for your own sake as well as the sake of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, is that the now former DUP leader Is Innocent. Because he’s been charged with rape and “other historical sexual offences” doesn’t mean he’s guilty of anything.
But the fact that he was arrested and charged will make it very difficult for him to come back to lead the DUP, even if he does emerge innocent of all charges. These things, once used to accuse, have a nasty habit of sticking to those at whom they’re targeted. There are still people who will mutter that the Birmingham Six may have been declared innocent but that there’s no smoke without fire, is there, mutter mutter mutter. I detest that kind of unproven smear, regardless of who its target is.
Given that the charges against Jeffrey are ‘historical’, the claim must be that they happened fado fado – some time back. How can evidence from that far back be validated? With great difficulty, I’d think. More interesting if not more answerable questions are , why now and who benefits?
Well, if we consider who led the charge against Jeffrey ‘s acceptance of the Windsor Framework, and went on leading that charge even after Jeffrey led his troops back into the Assembly, we might have some idea of who may derive political advantage from Jeffrey’s fall. Step forward the good Lord Dodds, Sammy Wilson and Jim Allister. All three were vocal in their condemnation of those who’d accept the Windsor Framework, given that NEI was still subject to EU laws. Now the man who led the DUP back into Stormont and accepted the Windsor Framework is charged with appalling crimes.