Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson is set to be interviewed by London police after being accused of raping a woman inside the Houses of Parliament, according to multiple sources including the BBC and The Times.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 63-year-old man is under investigation in connection with an allegation of rape said to have occurred in Westminster. The force stated that the investigation is ongoing and in its early stages, with no arrests made to date.
The alleged incident reportedly took place in 2016, at the heart of the UK’s political establishment. The woman who made the accusation has already been interviewed by officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), who subsequently referred the case to the Metropolitan Police, as the alleged offence was said to have occurred in London.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “On Tuesday 13 October, the Met received a report referred to us by the Police Service of Northern Ireland relating to an allegation of rape in 2016, by a man now aged 63. The allegation relates to one victim who is being supported by specialist officers. The investigation is in its early stages. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.”
Donaldson, who is currently jailed on unrelated charges, has not been formally named by police but has been widely identified in media reports as the subject of the investigation. The DUP, a major unionist party in Northern Ireland, has not commented publicly on the latest developments.
The case has drawn attention due to the alleged location of the incident within the Houses of Parliament, raising questions about security and oversight within the UK’s legislative buildings. The Metropolitan Police have not released further details about the circumstances of the alleged offence or the timeline of their inquiry.
There have been no public statements from Donaldson or his legal representatives regarding the allegations. The woman at the centre of the case is reported to be receiving support from specialist officers.
The investigation remains at an early stage, with police enquiries ongoing. No charges have been brought, and the Metropolitan Police have not indicated when further updates might be provided.
The image accompanying this article is an AI-generated illustrative depiction inspired by the actual scene of the event.
