Geoffrey Donaldson: Emma Little-Pengelly ‘floored’ by news of former DUP leader’s arrest

Former DUP MP Ian Paisley told the BBC he had seen Donaldson “blind drunk” on his trip to Washington in St Patrick’s.

However, Little-Pengelly said she saw nothing to suggest Donaldson was a drinker.

“I can say in my heart, I have not seen anything that makes me think that there are problematic behaviors related to drinking or sexually inappropriate behavior.”

If any politician were to run that way, I think that among the many, many people who come from Northern Ireland would be the talk of St. Patrick’s (Washington) DC.

Little-Pengelly says she finds it surprising that people haven’t talked about it in the last 20 years.

Donaldson said he would have a glass of wine at events, but she never saw him drink much.

“On some of the other things, look, I don’t know if some of these allegations are true or not.

“All I can say is that I’ve never seen a drinking problem from Jeffrey Donaldson.

“No matter what, Jeffrey Donaldson was a man who always seemed to work.”

The full BBC Red Line interview with Emma Little-Pengelly is available now. The BBC listens..