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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Inquiry into Robinson cafe affair | Inquiry into Robinson cafe affair |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Castlereagh council has voted to hold an external investigation into its decision to award a catering contract to Iris Robinson's teenage lover. | Castlereagh council has voted to hold an external investigation into its decision to award a catering contract to Iris Robinson's teenage lover. |
| The council wants the inquiry to examine whether it suffered financial loss by awarding the lease for the Lock Keepers Inn to Kirk McCambley. | |
| Mrs Robinson procured money from two developers to help him open the cafe. | Mrs Robinson procured money from two developers to help him open the cafe. |
| She then attended a council meeting when the lease was awarded and broke the law by not declaring an interest. | She then attended a council meeting when the lease was awarded and broke the law by not declaring an interest. |
| Investigators will be also be asked to ascertain whether or not council officers and members complied with local government legislation and to examine if any impropriety took place. | Investigators will be also be asked to ascertain whether or not council officers and members complied with local government legislation and to examine if any impropriety took place. |
| The decision to agree the terms of reference was endorsed unanimously by councillors at Wednesday night's meeting. | The decision to agree the terms of reference was endorsed unanimously by councillors at Wednesday night's meeting. |
| It is expected that the council will shortly announce who will carry out the investigation and give some indication as to how long the inquiry will take. | It is expected that the council will shortly announce who will carry out the investigation and give some indication as to how long the inquiry will take. |
| Resignations | Resignations |
| Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Mrs Robinson has resigned as an MP, MLA and councillor. | Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Mrs Robinson has resigned as an MP, MLA and councillor. |
| The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly told the BBC that her decision would be formally announced to MLAs next Monday. | The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly told the BBC that her decision would be formally announced to MLAs next Monday. |
| Earlier on Tuesday, the Treasury announced that Mrs Robinson had formally announced her resignation as MP for Strangford. Her resignation from the council was announced by its acting chief executive. | Earlier on Tuesday, the Treasury announced that Mrs Robinson had formally announced her resignation as MP for Strangford. Her resignation from the council was announced by its acting chief executive. |
| Mrs Robinson has applied for the Chiltern Hundreds, the system used by MPs who wish to resign. | Mrs Robinson has applied for the Chiltern Hundreds, the system used by MPs who wish to resign. |
| At the weekend, the DUP said that Mrs Robinson was leaving the party. | At the weekend, the DUP said that Mrs Robinson was leaving the party. |
| 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. |
| Details of Mrs Robinson's financial and personal relationship with Mr McCambley, who runs the Lock Keeper's Inn cafe in south Belfast, were revealed in a BBC Spotlight programme last week. | Details of Mrs Robinson's financial and personal relationship with Mr McCambley, who runs the Lock Keeper's Inn cafe in south Belfast, were revealed in a BBC Spotlight programme last week. |
| ROBINSON STORY SO FAR 6 January: Peter Robinson says his wife Iris tried to take her own life last March after admitting an affair with teenager Kirk McCambley 7 January: BBC's Spotlight reveals details of Iris Robinson's financial affairs - she obtained £50,000 from two property developers to help her lover launch a café and asked him for £5,000 for herself 10 January: DUP says Iris Robinson is receiving acute psychiatric treatment 11 January: Peter Robinson steps aside from his role as first minister for a six-week period - DUP colleague Arlene Foster becomes acting first minister amid renewed focus on resolving her party's problems with Stormont power-sharing colleagues Sinn Fein Timeline: Robinson allegations | ROBINSON STORY SO FAR 6 January: Peter Robinson says his wife Iris tried to take her own life last March after admitting an affair with teenager Kirk McCambley 7 January: BBC's Spotlight reveals details of Iris Robinson's financial affairs - she obtained £50,000 from two property developers to help her lover launch a café and asked him for £5,000 for herself 10 January: DUP says Iris Robinson is receiving acute psychiatric treatment 11 January: Peter Robinson steps aside from his role as first minister for a six-week period - DUP colleague Arlene Foster becomes acting first minister amid renewed focus on resolving her party's problems with Stormont power-sharing colleagues Sinn Fein Timeline: Robinson allegations |
| The programme reported that Mrs Robinson then sought to provide Mr McCambley with capital to open the business. | The programme reported that Mrs Robinson then sought to provide Mr McCambley with capital to open the business. |
| She obtained a total of £50,000 from two developers, Fred Fraser, now deceased, and Ken Campbell to fund the project. | She obtained a total of £50,000 from two developers, Fred Fraser, now deceased, and Ken Campbell to fund the project. |
| Spotlight reported that while Mrs Robinson was asking Mr Campbell for the money, she also lobbied on his behalf for one of his building projects in her former parliamentary constituency. | Spotlight reported that while Mrs Robinson was asking Mr Campbell for the money, she also lobbied on his behalf for one of his building projects in her former parliamentary constituency. |
| Mr McCambley said he received two cheques, which he invested in kitchen equipment and furniture. | Mr McCambley said he received two cheques, which he invested in kitchen equipment and furniture. |
| He also told the programme that after he received the money Mrs Robinson had then asked him to give her £5,000 in cash. | He also told the programme that after he received the money Mrs Robinson had then asked him to give her £5,000 in cash. |
| Spotlight reported that in July 2008, six weeks after Castlereagh Borough Council advertised for expressions of interest in the cafe project, only one applicant met the criteria - Mr McCambley. | Spotlight reported that in July 2008, six weeks after Castlereagh Borough Council advertised for expressions of interest in the cafe project, only one applicant met the criteria - Mr McCambley. |
| The deal was sealed on 28 August and Iris Robinson was in attendance as the council authorised the signing of the lease. | The deal was sealed on 28 August and Iris Robinson was in attendance as the council authorised the signing of the lease. |
| The laws covering local government state that once Mrs Robinson had a financial interest in the business, she was obliged to declare it at any meeting she attended where it was being considered. She failed to do so. | The laws covering local government state that once Mrs Robinson had a financial interest in the business, she was obliged to declare it at any meeting she attended where it was being considered. She failed to do so. |
| Spotlight reported that she also broke a cluster of other rules in the Code of Conduct for councillors - as many as five elements of the code. | Spotlight reported that she also broke a cluster of other rules in the Code of Conduct for councillors - as many as five elements of the code. |