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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Robinson 'has cleared his name' | Robinson 'has cleared his name' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Northern Ireland Secretary of State has said Peter Robinson "has cleared his name" in relation to allegations surrounding his wife Iris' finances. | The Northern Ireland Secretary of State has said Peter Robinson "has cleared his name" in relation to allegations surrounding his wife Iris' finances. |
| Shaun Woodward said in an interview the DUP leader had no questions to answer. | Shaun Woodward said in an interview the DUP leader had no questions to answer. |
| Mr Robinson resumed his role as First Minister on Wednesday after stepping aside temporarily earlier this month. | Mr Robinson resumed his role as First Minister on Wednesday after stepping aside temporarily earlier this month. |
| The BBC claimed that in not reporting his wife's financial dealings to the authorities, he had broken the code which governs Stormont politicians. | The BBC claimed that in not reporting his wife's financial dealings to the authorities, he had broken the code which governs Stormont politicians. |
| Speaking on the BBC Radio Four's Today programme, Mr Woodward described Mr Robinson as "an outstanding politician". | |
| He said: "I think he has cleared his name. I think he has justifiably done so, everyone is entitled to do that. | He said: "I think he has cleared his name. I think he has justifiably done so, everyone is entitled to do that. |
| "He is an outstanding politician, just as Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams and Nigel Dodds have been throughout this process and I'm looking forward to seeing the first minister and deputy first minister moving forward and ensuring that people get what they need in Northern Ireland, which is good government." | "He is an outstanding politician, just as Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams and Nigel Dodds have been throughout this process and I'm looking forward to seeing the first minister and deputy first minister moving forward and ensuring that people get what they need in Northern Ireland, which is good government." |
| Formal investigations | Formal investigations |
| Mr Robinson stepped aside from his role as Northern Ireland First Minister on 11 January, saying he needed to clear his name in light of the allegation made by the programme. | Mr Robinson stepped aside from his role as Northern Ireland First Minister on 11 January, saying he needed to clear his name in light of the allegation made by the programme. |
| He said he did not have the months or years it would take for the matter to be decided through court action or official inquiries and so quickly sought a barrister's opinion on whether he had broken assembly rules regarding his knowledge of his wife's involvement in the cafe deal. | He said he did not have the months or years it would take for the matter to be decided through court action or official inquiries and so quickly sought a barrister's opinion on whether he had broken assembly rules regarding his knowledge of his wife's involvement in the cafe deal. |
| The government's legal service, the Departmental Solicitor's Office, appointed Paul Maguire QC to look at the issue. | The government's legal service, the Departmental Solicitor's Office, appointed Paul Maguire QC to look at the issue. |
| Two days ago, the DUP leader said Mr Maguire had formed the opinion, going on the information provided to him, that he had not breached the Ministerial Code. | Two days ago, the DUP leader said Mr Maguire had formed the opinion, going on the information provided to him, that he had not breached the Ministerial Code. |
| The BBC said it was standing by the allegations made in the programme. | The BBC said it was standing by the allegations made in the programme. |
| Separate investigations are being carried out in Mr Robinson's conduct by the Northern Ireland Assembly's Standards and Privileges Committee and the Westminster Standards Committee. | Separate investigations are being carried out in Mr Robinson's conduct by the Northern Ireland Assembly's Standards and Privileges Committee and the Westminster Standards Committee. |
| However, the Assembly inquiry was later suspended after the police said they had launched a criminal investigation into Mrs Robinson's financial dealings. | However, the Assembly inquiry was later suspended after the police said they had launched a criminal investigation into Mrs Robinson's financial dealings. |