Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is to appeal against his convictions for child sex abuse offences, his lawyer has confirmed. The move follows his conviction and comes as Donaldson, once one of Northern Ireland's most prominent politicians, faces the fallout from a case that has drawn significant public attention given his previous stature within unionist politics.

Details of the specific charges, sentencing and grounds for appeal were not fully outlined, though his legal representative has signalled the intention to challenge the verdicts through the courts. The case marks a dramatic fall for Donaldson, who led the DUP and played a key role in Northern Ireland's political landscape before the allegations against him emerged.