This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8450544.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Iris Robinson receiving treatment | Iris Robinson receiving treatment |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The Northern Ireland first minister's wife is receiving "acute psychiatric treatment" as the furore about her private life and finances continues. | |
| A Democratic Unionist Party spokesman said the information on Iris Robinson was being disclosed after speculation about her health and whereabouts. | A Democratic Unionist Party spokesman said the information on Iris Robinson was being disclosed after speculation about her health and whereabouts. |
| Peter Robinson is facing growing pressure to resign over the reports. | Peter Robinson is facing growing pressure to resign over the reports. |
| Former first minister David Trimble has said the DUP leader can "no longer deliver" as first minister. | Former first minister David Trimble has said the DUP leader can "no longer deliver" as first minister. |
| The spokesman said Mrs Robinson, an MP and member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, was receiving treatment from the Belfast Health Trust. | The spokesman said Mrs Robinson, an MP and member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, was receiving treatment from the Belfast Health Trust. |
| Reports that Mrs Robinson was in a French ski resort were "completely untrue", he added. | Reports that Mrs Robinson was in a French ski resort were "completely untrue", he added. |
| Earlier this week, the BBC alleged Mr Robinson did not tell the authorities his wife failed to register £50,000 she obtained from two property developers. | Earlier this week, the BBC alleged Mr Robinson did not tell the authorities his wife failed to register £50,000 she obtained from two property developers. |
| The Spotlight programme said the money was paid to her 19-year-old lover, Kirk McCambley, to help him launch a cafe. | The Spotlight programme said the money was paid to her 19-year-old lover, Kirk McCambley, to help him launch a cafe. |
| 'Clear his name' | 'Clear his name' |
| Lord Trimble said Mr Robinson had "lost his authority within the party and the system". | Lord Trimble said Mr Robinson had "lost his authority within the party and the system". |
| "If he is going to fight to clear his name, then the place to do that is from the back benches," said the Ulster Unionist party leader. | "If he is going to fight to clear his name, then the place to do that is from the back benches," said the Ulster Unionist party leader. |
| David Trimble: "His authority has gone" | David Trimble: "His authority has gone" |
| Lord Trimble said he expected Mr Robinson to step down within the "next few days". | Lord Trimble said he expected Mr Robinson to step down within the "next few days". |
| "To have a situation where a party leader sees his wife expelled from the party and acquiesces in it, doesn't even persuade the party to give her a decent way out, shows there has been a complete loss of authority," he said. | "To have a situation where a party leader sees his wife expelled from the party and acquiesces in it, doesn't even persuade the party to give her a decent way out, shows there has been a complete loss of authority," he said. |
| BBC political editor Mark Devenport said DUP politicians had been put under strict orders not to speak to the media. | BBC political editor Mark Devenport said DUP politicians had been put under strict orders not to speak to the media. |
| "Nobody is ringing me and telling me Peter Robinson must be defended and that his situation is impregnable, it is quite the opposite," he said. | "Nobody is ringing me and telling me Peter Robinson must be defended and that his situation is impregnable, it is quite the opposite," he said. |
| "Those that have broken with that instruction have talked about his position being untenable and the real debate being not over his leadership, but over who might succeed him. | "Those that have broken with that instruction have talked about his position being untenable and the real debate being not over his leadership, but over who might succeed him. |
| "Even if this legal probe that he has ordered clears him of these allegations, on a political level there is huge damage to the Robinson brand." | "Even if this legal probe that he has ordered clears him of these allegations, on a political level there is huge damage to the Robinson brand." |
| 'Untenable' | 'Untenable' |
| Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said it was important that the problems surrounding the Robinsons did not detract from the current political impasse over the devolution of policing and justice. | Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said it was important that the problems surrounding the Robinsons did not detract from the current political impasse over the devolution of policing and justice. |
| "This is not about the Robinson's private family matters," he said. | "This is not about the Robinson's private family matters," he said. |
| "It is about implementing outstanding political agreements that are essential to good government and public confidence." | "It is about implementing outstanding political agreements that are essential to good government and public confidence." |
| Earlier on Sunday, a close friend of ex-DUP leader Ian Paisley repeated his view that Mr Robinson's position as Northern Ireland first minister was "untenable". | Earlier on Sunday, a close friend of ex-DUP leader Ian Paisley repeated his view that Mr Robinson's position as Northern Ireland first minister was "untenable". |
| Free Presbyterian minister David McIlveen stressed that his opinion was not that of Mr Paisley. | Free Presbyterian minister David McIlveen stressed that his opinion was not that of Mr Paisley. |
| Lord Trimble said he expected Mr Robinson to step down soon | Lord Trimble said he expected Mr Robinson to step down soon |
| His church has also said he was not speaking on their behalf. | His church has also said he was not speaking on their behalf. |
| "He has a problem with solving his family difficulties and I cannot take the view a person's private life does not affect their public life," he said. | "He has a problem with solving his family difficulties and I cannot take the view a person's private life does not affect their public life," he said. |
| "Judgments that we make in private will undoubtedly influence our judgments in public." | "Judgments that we make in private will undoubtedly influence our judgments in public." |
| "I do believe that one of the great bonds between a politician and the people is a bond of trust. | "I do believe that one of the great bonds between a politician and the people is a bond of trust. |
| "Once that trust is broken, it is very, very difficult to recover that." | "Once that trust is broken, it is very, very difficult to recover that." |
| On Friday, Mr Robinson said he believed he had not done anything wrong. | On Friday, Mr Robinson said he believed he had not done anything wrong. |
| However, he added that he would "not be slow" in taking a decision if an investigation found that he should have acted differently. | However, he added that he would "not be slow" in taking a decision if an investigation found that he should have acted differently. |
| On Saturday, DUP sources confirmed that Mrs Robinson was stepping down as an MP and MLA and was also leaving the party. | On Saturday, DUP sources confirmed that Mrs Robinson was stepping down as an MP and MLA and was also leaving the party. |
| Iris Robinson obtained £50,000 for her lover, Kirk McCambley | Iris Robinson obtained £50,000 for her lover, Kirk McCambley |
| She could leave both her posts as early as this week. | She could leave both her posts as early as this week. |
| Spotlight said Mr Robinson knew about her financial dealings, but did not tell the proper authorities despite being obliged by the ministerial code to act in the public interest at all times. | Spotlight said Mr Robinson knew about her financial dealings, but did not tell the proper authorities despite being obliged by the ministerial code to act in the public interest at all times. |
| The financial allegations followed a public admission by Mr Robinson that his wife had attempted suicide after her affair. | The financial allegations followed a public admission by Mr Robinson that his wife had attempted suicide after her affair. |
| Mrs Robinson represents the Strangford constituency in County Down both at Westminster and at the Northern Ireland Assembly. | Mrs Robinson represents the Strangford constituency in County Down both at Westminster and at the Northern Ireland Assembly. |
| Last month, she issued a statement saying she was leaving politics due to ill health, however, news that she was stepping down came earlier than expected. | Last month, she issued a statement saying she was leaving politics due to ill health, however, news that she was stepping down came earlier than expected. |
| The Robinsons were married in 1970 and have three grown-up children. | The Robinsons were married in 1970 and have three grown-up children. |