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The banner appeared on Sunday afternoon, hours before the bonfire was set alight

A picture of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife Eleanor was placed on a South Belfast bonfire hours before it was set alight.

The banner was placed on the Sandy Row pyre on Sunday afternoon, July 12, wich was set alight at midnight. Jeffrey Donaldson, the former DUP leader, was convicted last month of 18 sex offences against two women when they were children, including one count of rape.

His wife, Eleanor, was foudn to have aided and abetted his offending during a trial of the facts at Newry Crown Court.

Bonfires were lit throughout the weekend across Northern Ireland, with the final ones lit at midnight on Sunday into Monday morning, July 13, ahead of the main Twelfth demonstrations.

Donaldson historically marched with the Ballinran Orange Lodge in Kilkeel and once held the position of Assistant Grand Master in the Orange Order. His membership of the Order was terminated with immediate effect following his guilty verdict last month.

Earlier this week, the former Lagan Valley MP was removed from his position on the Privy Council. The Privy Council is one of the oldest parts of the UK government, dating back to Norman times.

It exists to advise the monarch and has more than 600 members, but most meetings are only attended by a handful of members. Its membership is mostly made up of senior politicians including cabinet ministers.

The Northern Ireland Assembly has also launched a review into any alleged abuse or inappropriate behaviour by Jeffrey Donaldson while he was a Stormont MLA or a visitor to Parliament Buildings.

The Assembly Commission said the review would provide a "safe and supported" process for anyone who directly experienced abuse or inappropriate behaviour by Donaldson during his time as an elected representative or visitor to the Stormont estate.

It will be led by the Director of Parliamentary Services, who is also the Assembly’s Senior Safeguarding Officer, with guidance from experts in trauma-informed practices.

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