WORDS simply can’t express my immense relief at Jeffrey Donaldson’s trial outcome.

Justice was served thanks to the endurance of the jury who over four weeks had to listen to harrowing and disturbing evidence.

Above all, I’m relieved for the two complainants who experienced such painful and traumatic violations.

While they enjoyed official anonymity, they still faced a torrent of online innuendo, wild speculation, and the excesses of the rumour mill, not to mention malicious gossip stemming from the trial.

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This trial should never have happened to them and only compounded their hurt and anguish. The convicted predator deserves to have his name erased from all his past associations.

Going forward, I won’t give this criminal his name. He deserves to languish in prison, forgotten and unforgiven.

The wickedness and perversions of this individual have been extensively covered in the media, and I don’t want to add to the suffering of his victims and survivors. I’ll simply keep them in my thoughts and hope they’re sustained by the love of those who truly care.

Last week also marked the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum. At an event, a businessman wryly said “Happy Anniversary”.

As the chair of the Stronger in Europe campaign, the date is etched in my mind. This monstrous act of economic,........

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