His sudden resignation, after being charged with non-recent sexual offenses on Thursday, has upended the status quo in Northern Ireland and raised questions about the future direction of the Democratic Unionist Party, or D.U.P.
Michelle O'Neill, the first minister of Northern Ireland, said on Friday that the charges against Mr. Donaldson were now a matter for the criminal justice system and added that her priority was to provide the leadership the public expect and deserve, and to ensure the four-party executive coalition delivers for the whole of our community now and in the future.
Born in Kilkeel, a County Down fishing and farming village that is within sight across a narrow sea inlet of the independent Republic of Ireland, Mr. Donaldson was the eldest of five boys and three girls.
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