Threats against Sir Jeffrey Donaldson reported to PSNI, says DUP

A "threat of violence" against Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has been reported to police, the party has said.

It comes after the DUP leader told MPs he had been threatened due to a "stirring up" of tensions over the party's talks on Brexit trade rules.

He made the remarks on Wednesday during a speech in the Commons.

He told MPs he would not be "deflected" in his efforts to reach a deal to restore Stormont power-sharing.

The DUP has been blocking a resumption of Northern Ireland's devolved institutions since 2022 in protest over post-Brexit trade checks between the region and Great Britain.

It has been in talks with the UK government seeking changes to the arrangements agreed with the EU in a deal called the Windsor Framework.

Sir Jeffrey told the Commons: "I was threatened by those who never put on a uniform, by those who haven't served our country, and when I checked out one of the people who threatened me, they weren't even on the register. They didn't vote at the last election.

"They can't even come out to vote for our future in the union. Yet they're threatening people like me who are working day and night to find solutions."

In a statement on Thursday, the DUP said details were reported to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

"The details have been reported to the PSNI and we trust those responsible will be held accountable for their actions," a party spokesman said.

"There is no place for the threat of violence in democratic politics."

In a statement, a PSNI spokesman said: "Police have received a report and have launched an investigation."

Sir Jeffrey was speaking as the Commons passed a bill to extend the deadline for restoring devolution to 8 February - giving the DUP more time to decide whether to return to power-sharing.

In an impassioned speech he hit out at his unionist critics, saying that some were attempting to "orchestrate opposition to a deal that has not yet taken place".

He said there was a "tiny minority" who did not want devolution restored and would prefer "imperfect direct rule than an imperfect Stormont".

Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris condemned those who had threatened the DUP leader.

"The fact he's been threatened for doing what he has been doing is a disgrace," he said in the Commons.

Mr Heaton-Harris added that he hoped politicians would soon be back "celebrating" the return of Stormont's power-sharing government.

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Colum Eastwood said those who threatened Sir Jeffrey "couldn't lace his boots".

"We are in a more hopeful place than we have been. If this today symbolises we are getting closer to a resolution we have to welcome it and give it space."

Alliance Party MP Stephen Farry described the tone of Sir Jeffrey's speech as "encouraging" on the prospect of restoring devolution.

The debate followed a major strike in Northern Ireland last week involving tens of thousands of public sector workers taking industrial action in a dispute over pay.