A gay sauna visit and an 'exploited' young woman – the double life of Jeffrey Donaldson

An investigation has uncovered more secrets behind the double life of disgraced former MP Jeffrey Donaldson.

Senior former police officers and politicians spoke about behaviour they described as hypocritical and which put Donaldson in danger of being compromised by his political opponents.

Incidents included a visit to a London sauna marketed as a meeting place for gay men the same year he described homosexuality as "sinful".

Whilst much of the conduct is not illegal it tells a story of a 'double life'.

BBC NI Spotlight contacted Donaldson about allegations in its programme but he did not respond.

The ex-DUP leader was this week convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse, including one count of rape, which he committed against two women when they were children.

Former DUP MP Ian Paisley said that five years ago he was approached by a young woman who said she had been "exploited" by Donaldson.

Paisley described her as a "victim" in a text to another politician during the DUP leadership contest between Donaldson and Edwin Poots in 2021.

"She wasn't a teenager but she was a young woman," he said.

"And she said 'Jeffrey Donaldson exploited me, that man used me and I want you to do everything in your power to make sure he is not the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party'."

"The woman wasn't talking to me on some minor issue. This was deeply upsetting."

Paisley said the woman did not want to make a formal complaint, but said he told Poots.

Poots said: "We observed at all times the wishes of the young woman."

A DUP statement said the party "has no knowledge of these issues raised and is shocked to learn of these alleged incidents highlighted.

"At no time did the party receive any complaints internally or externally about inappropriate and/or criminal behaviour by Jeffrey Donaldson."

As a politician, Donaldson had a reputation as someone who could rise to the big occasions, rarely faltering under pressure.

It's part of the reason why many believe he rose through the ranks of his parties so quickly, and was able to keep a secure seat at Westminster for almost thirty years.

However, the BBC has been told how Donaldson was taking huge risks with his personal security during peace talks to restore Stormont.

In 2006, two senior PSNI detectives saw Donaldson entering a sauna which marketed itself as a meeting place for gay men.

Chariots was based in central London, near the Houses of Parliament and the home of the security services.

It's no longer there, but former head of the PSNI's Serious Crime Branch, Tim Hanley, said he was "100% sure" Donaldson entered the building.

The other detective confirmed Hanley's account to the BBC.

"Somebody's sexuality is their own business. But I think it's the whole, if you like, history of the DUP.

"They were opposed to gay marriage, they've always had that angle, that bigotry towards members of the gay community and that's where the shock came from, that there could be such a double standard.

"I found it incredible," he said.

That same year Donaldson told the Northern Ireland Assembly: "Judaism, Islam and Christianity all teach that homosexual practice is sinful… it is a sincerely held view by Christians and people of other faiths."

Spotlight: Politician, Predator & Paedophile is on BBC One Northern Ireland on Friday 26 June at 21:00. It will also be available on the BBC iPlayer.