Stormont speaker Edwin Poots has accused former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson of “destroying the innocence of children”, after his conviction for child sex abuse.
He also accused Donaldson of telling lies many times over the years and added, he never imagined the former party leader could have been so “depraved”.
Poots made the comments on Facebook, following Donaldson’s conviction for 18 child sex offences, including rape, which he committed against two women when they were children.
It comes as all images of Donaldson were removed from Lagan Valley Island council civic centre in Lisburn.
Donaldson has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced later this year.
In a stinging attack, Poots quoted the Bible and said: “The Lord Jesus Christ said, of those who harm children, that it would be better if a millstone was put around their neck and they were cast into the depth of the sea.”
He added that when Donaldson was faced with the “consequences of his actions he chose to lie” and to force his victims “to relive the trauma he perpetuated on them and accuse the victims of lying”.