Jim Gamble, who formally headed up the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, has been commissioned to lead an independent review for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) over Jeffrey Donaldson’s actions.

It follows a crisis sparked after the former DUP leader’s conviction for child sex offences last month.

Earlier this year, Gamble was appointed to carry out an external review of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s governance and safeguarding arrangements.

Donaldson was convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse last month, including one count of rape, committed against two women when they were children.

A BBC Spotlight investigation has since revealed that two senior DUP members were made aware of different allegations against Donaldson five years ago, when a young woman said she had been “exploited” by him.

The DUP said Gamble, as part of the iNEQE Safeguarding Group would conduct an Independent Focused Safeguarding Review for the party into Donaldson’s time as a member of the party.

In a statement on Thursday, it said the review would establish what, if any, information was known within the party about his conduct, to examine its safeguarding and reporting arrangements, and to make recommendations to ensure good practice for all its members and staff.

“The review will be carried out by a specialist multi-disciplinary team from the iNEQE Safeguarding Group, drawing on their safeguarding, child protection and policing expertise,” it added.

“The review will be led by Mr Jim Gamble. The review will be conducted entirely independent of the DUP.”