Wednesday, January 06, 2010
And what the Robinson story was really about…
Peter Robinson will come on to the TV tonight to give his story in advance. Given statement comes outside the standard right of reply terms offered by the BBC, expect the Spotlight Special programme to be fore-grounded to later tonight or tomorrow in which the fuller details of the story are likely to emerge. The core of Robinson’s statement is to the effect that his wife has been having an extramarital affair, and that he is preparing to stand by his woman. She has also tried committing suicide. The news will break first on UTV followed by an extended BBC Newsline programme. The gossip has already begun on Politics.ie, but we ould counsel you to pay close very attention to the detail in the material that follows from the BBC in the wake of the initial statement.
Update: the BBC Newsline site have this update:
During his interview Mr Robinson was also asked if his financial affairs were under investigation. In reply he said he had always acted “in the most professional and ethical way.” He also confirmed he had received a letter from the BBC which he said contained no allegations against him but “asked questions which are easily answered.”
The BBC Spotlight programme has confirmed it has been investigating matters involving Iris Robinson for some time.
In a statement the BBC added that allegations have been put to the Robinsons and their response is awaited.
Mick Fealty @ 04:32 PM
Unless there is more to this than an affair, then I do not see it as a public issue, as the woman has already stood down from public office.
With all the things to report and debate, people still wet themselves over a bit of nookey, how sad is that. Robinson would not be the first politician whose wife has put it about. Although if I were the guy who was driven from the DUP for having consensual and legal sex, I might feel a little aggrieved. Still, if he was willing to join a nest of religious and political hypocrites, what did he expect.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:13 PMThe man sounded broken. He does need a break away from everything.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:14 PMThe rumour mill was pretty much accurate too.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:20 PMI thought he handled himself with dignity
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:22 PMSorry Joe, but to me he sounded utterly fake.
Does this mean that we know what the OFMDFM press office has been busy with during the last week rather than issuing a statement on Cardinal Daly’s death?
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:22 PMI find it hard to have sympathy for Iris considering how many times she paraded her piety and condemned others for their sexuality. I recall her standing up in the House of Commons and crowing about her Christianity, demanding respect as a result.
Normally I’d subscribe to the idea that a person’s private life is exactly that, unless they make a point of lecturing the rest of us on how we should conduct ourselves in the bedroom. There’s no hypocrite like a Christian hypocrite.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:23 PMGood luck to them both in their time of trouble. This has no political implications and is none of our business.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:23 PMPacman,
He wanted to speak from his heart but instead read from a sheet!
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:23 PMAnyone know when the Spotlight programme will air?
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:26 PMHe did, surely. But the Beeb have been working on this story for months.
If it is only about sex, I am not sure how they could justify the money. I’m holding fire till I see what the Beeb actually has.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:26 PMStill doesn’t explain why he’s only getting weepy now Steve, when he apparently found out in March.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:26 PMIt’s the UDA I feel sorry for after being relegated on their big day to the Weatherwatchers slot on UTV Live-and all because of the havoc caused by an undecommissioned weapon of a different type, owned by an as yet unknown source.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:31 PMThis has no political implications and is none of our business.
Oh, moral clarity out the window now then is it, funny because that is / was the political staple of the DUP clerics sorry representatives.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:32 PMAld, No.
Mark Devenport noting a money aspect to the affair.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:33 PMI did feel sorry for Peter in the interview, but stories I have heard over the years put a different twist on things. TBH Iris probably deserves as much sympathy and has had the toughest time, this all didnt happen over a few months at the start of last year and the 40yrs before were one long honeymoon.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:33 PM“Iris’ inappropriate relationship”
Don’t you mean “my wife’s affair”?
I suppose it’s better than transgressions!
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:34 PMPlease don’t let it be a business associate of Ian Paisley Junior.
On the other hand….Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:34 PMagain (sorry Mick) Politics.ie & David Cochrane sez there was an attempt to get an injunction against the beeb today, there is defo more to come
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:35 PMbeeb has just mentioned financial affairs, allegations put to the robinsons and the beeb are awaiting a response
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:38 PMThere must have been some legal action - why the news black-out until 6 O’Clock?
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:39 PMInteresting. BBC is more interested in the money aspect.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:40 PMCan I just say there is already a gagging order in place to protect a well known BBC radio ulster presenter.
Can’t say any more, but hey.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:41 PMnews black-out was just an embargo. ni is a wee place mind.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:42 PMIf it is only about sex, I am not sure how they could justify the money.
Mick
You’re taking this role as self-appointed spinner in chief for the DUP on Slugger a tad serious, aren’t you:>?Try hypocrisy. Iris was running our very own version of the Tories’ classic Back To Basics campaign of the 90s, with her attack on homosexuals and assertion that the politican’s job was to uphold God’s law.
Personally speaking, I have a great deal of sympathy for Peter Robinson and feel it must have been a deeply humiliating experience having to pour out the innermost secrets of his family in front of the media.
Perhaps those unionists who indulged in a bit of schadenfraude over the Adams case on here will reflect on the human aspect of that case as they follow the unfolding of the Robinson case.
And let’s hope we’re spared a spurious psychosexual analysis of unionism…
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:42 PMStunning_Steave
Oh, moral clarity out the window now then is it, funny because that is / was the political staple of the DUP clerics sorry representatives.
The issue now is our standards not theirs. If we want an excuse to kick them while they are down we can find one. Let’s not.
Posted by on Jan 06, 2010 @ 06:42 PM
