Disgraced former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson stripped of knighthood

Disgraced former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been stripped of his knighthood.It comes after Donaldson was convicted of historical child sex abuse offences at Newry Crown Court in June.The ex veteran Lagan Valley MP moved to renounce and forfeit his knighthood and membership of the Privy Council amid calls for the titles to be removed after he was convicted of 18 sexual offences.A prison van carrying former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson leaves Newry Crown Court, where he was found guilty of 18 historical sex offences (Liam McBurney/PA)PA WireHe signed a letter asking to resign from both.His name was removed from the Privy Council, the body of senior advisers to the King, earlier this month.On Thursday a notice was published in the Gazette that the King “directed the cancellation and annulment” of the knighthood conferred upon Donaldson in 2016.Donaldson is currently being held at Maghaberry Prison awaiting sentencing.He was convicted of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children between 1985 and 2008.Last week, his solicitor John McBurney confirmed that papers have been lodged for an appeal.