Geoffrey Donaldson’s first night in prison has rocked NI politics as his fall

Donaldson’s death was revealed in graphic detail during the four-week trial.

He sat with his hands folded in defiance during the harrowing testimony.

According to those who knew him best, he was classic Donaldson, giving nothing away in the tightest of environments.

He had no doubt that he would take a stand for them.

As a skilled politician with decades of experience handling difficult questions, he backed himself up to convince the trial of his innocence.

But it didn’t work.

Donaldson’s fall has also cost the DUP.

The former leader was suspended from the party after his arrest and was immediately expelled under DUP rules after two years in March.

At that time, the party would withdraw from public opinion to let “justice take its course.”

But secretly the DUP felt betrayed and disillusioned by the actions of their former leader.

Some in the party have blamed this Losing three Westminster seats two years ago.

According to senior DUP sources, his arrest and conviction for child sexual abuse offenses is on the doorstep as the election approaches.

“All they wanted to talk about was Jeffrey and the allegations of child sexual abuse, there was no escape,” the source said.