DUP leader Gavin Robinson has insisted he has ordered an “unprecedented review” in terms of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Donaldson’s time in his party.
Mr Robinson previously announced a “focused, independent review” to establish what was known within the party about Donaldson’s conduct.
The review will be led by Jim Gamble, a former senior police officer and current head of the INEQE Safeguarding Group.
The Northern Ireland Survivor Council had expressed “concern” because the INEQE is also undertaking a safeguarding review of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and it had emerged Donaldson’s victims had previously disclosed to church officials they had been abused.
They have queried whether one organisation can independently and robustly conduct both reviews.
Former DUP leader Donaldson was, last month, convicted at Newry Crown Court of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.
Mr Robinson said he was very pleased that Mr Gamble and his company has agreed to the review.
“I said that it would be robust and I said that we would select an individual who has impeccable and unquestionable credentials in the safeguarding sphere,” he told BBC Northern Ireland’s Good Morning Ulster programme.
“I have commissioned him (Mr Gamble), he is the man that is going to lead this unprecedented review.
“There is no political party in Northern Ireland’s history that has commissioned like this, and I also said that having commissioned Jim, I am not going to give a running commentary on it.”
Pressed further concerns that have been voiced, Mr Robinson went on: “I have no questions about the independence of Jim Gamble, I am not asking him and he has not been commissioned to look at any interplay with other investigations that he is engaged in or other review that he is engaged in.
“This is to satisfy not only myself but, in time, the general public about what occurred within our party, what was known, what could have been known and whether our safeguarding policies and procedures in place are correct or whether they need to change.
“I am taking this seriously and I have engaged the UK’s foremost expert. I have no questions about his independence or capacity to do this review and I am pleased he is doing so.”
Speaking later, Mr Gamble vowed to leave “no stone unturned”.
He told the BBC he respected concerns expressed, and wanted to speak to allay those, adding that his organisation has 37 full-time staff with multi-disciplinary backgrounds including former senior police officers and those with legal and social care experience.
He described the terms of reference for the DUP review and Presbyterian Church review as “very different”, with the latter to be “much broader”, and also revealed that his team are going to meet with the Northern Ireland Survivor Council.
“We’re not going to shy away from challenging fellow professionals or indeed anyone who was in police in Northern Ireland or anywhere else,” he said.
“If I didn’t believe Gavin Robinson wanted a warts-and-all review within the limited focus that we have, I wouldn’t be doing it.
“At the end of the day, our reputation means everything, so we’re not going to leave any stone unturned, we’re not going to provide any level of protection or to tone down what we say and how we say it to protect the blushes of others.
“That’s not what this is about, and if it was, there are other people they could go to, but certainly not us.”
Read MoreBBC needs to be ‘open to all options’ for funding, says director-general Brittin
Eight-year-old girl among three killed in suspected double murder in Co Antrim
Fewer people are paying the BBC licence fee – here’s what could replace it
500,000 UK households cancel their TV licence in a year
Nobby Stiles died with brain injury caused by heading the ball, coroner rules
Keir Starmer pledges ‘wholehearted support’ to Andy Burnham in final PMQs
