Jailed former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson is being investigated by London police over an alleged rape of a woman inside the Houses of Parliament in 2016. The former MP, who was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex offences, is accused of the assault occurring within the political establishment.

This new investigation adds to the serious charges faced by Donaldson, who is currently seeking to appeal his convictions for offences committed between 1985 and 2008. The allegation of rape inside Parliament, if proven, would represent a significant breach of trust within the heart of British politics.

The woman involved has reportedly been interviewed by Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers, who have shared her claims with the Metropolitan Police due to the incident occurring in London. The Met confirmed a 63-year-old man is being investigated, stating they received a report related to an alleged rape in 2016 by a man now aged 63. The investigation is in its early stages, with no arrests made.

This revelation follows earlier reports from July detailing a woman's allegations of sexual assault by Donaldson in DUP offices at Parliament in 2016. These claims included an alleged attempt to force her to drink alcohol before trying to kiss her and placing his hand up her skirt. Further reports indicated the Met was preparing to investigate these accusations.

Concerns about Donaldson's past behaviour in London were previously highlighted in a BBC NI Spotlight film. Former senior PSNI detectives reportedly saw Donaldson intoxicated within the Houses of Parliament. The same film also mentioned two other former senior PSNI detectives reporting seeing him enter a gay sauna near Parliament in 2006, the same year he publicly described homosexuality as sinful.

Donaldson, who was the leader of the DUP and a Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley until his resignation following the charges, has maintained his innocence regarding the child sex offences for which he was recently jailed. His legal team is pursuing an appeal against those convictions.

The Metropolitan Police statement emphasized that the victim is being supported by specialist officers and that enquiries are ongoing. The timing of the alleged incident, occurring in 2016, means the investigation will involve gathering evidence from that period.

This investigation into an alleged rape within Parliament raises further questions about conduct within political institutions and the processes in place to address such serious allegations. The outcome of the Met's investigation will be closely watched, particularly given Donaldson's prominent former role in Northern Ireland politics.