Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson is to launch an appeal after being convicted of a string of child sex offences last month.
The 63-year-old was convicted of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, at Newry Crown Court, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children.
He is being held on remand at Maghaberry Prison in his former parliamentary constituency of Lagan Valley.
On Friday afternoon, his solicitor, John McBurney, said that papers had been lodged for an appeal.
“I can confirm, having lodged this afternoon on behalf of Jeffrey Donaldson appeal papers with the relevant office for the court of appeal,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Assembly has launched a review into alleged abuse or inappropriate behaviour associated with Jeffrey Donaldson in Stormont.
On June 29, Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots asked the clerk and chief executive of the Assembly to conduct a review into any allegations of “any abuse or inappropriate behaviour by Jeffrey Donaldson” at Parliament Buildings in Belfast.
The Assembly announced on Friday that it had put in place arrangements to conduct the review. It will be conducted by the director of parliamentary services, guided by experts in trauma-informed practices, and report directly to the clerk and chief executive.
The review will allow any member or former member, as well as staff and other users of the Parliament Buildings, to bring forward any incidents of abuse they have directly experienced.
It is to establish if the Assembly Commission holds any information about abuse or inappropriate behaviour while Donaldson was a member of the Assembly from 2003 to 2010, or while he was a visitor to Parliament Buildings as an MP.
It will be carried out from July 10 until August 21, with a report due by August 28.
The review is also designed to draw the clerk’s attention to any matters that “may require further appropriate investigation or referral to the PSNI or other statutory agencies”.
