Member News
By Tony Grew - 6th January 2010
The wife of the first minister of Northern Ireland, Stangford MP Iris Robinson, has revealed she tried to kill herself ten months ago.
Her husband, DUP leader Peter Robinson, confirmed her account of the events, which also revealed she had an affair.
In a statement Mrs Robinson said that during a period of serious mental illness, "I lost control of my life and did the worst thing that I have ever done".
Last month she announced that she had been suffering from mental illness and will stand down from both the Commons and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
"Over a year and a half ago, I was involved in a relationship. It began completely innocently when I gave support to someone following a family death," she said today.
"I encouraged friends to assist him by providing financial support for a business venture.
"Regrettably, the relationship later developed into a brief affair. It had no emotional or last meaning but my actions have devastated my life and the lives of those around me.
"I am aware that I did not only hurt Peter, I hurt my family and friends
"Everyone is paying a heavy price for my actions. Psychiatrists may suggest that my mental illness was a significant factor explaining my irrational behaviour.
"I do not, in any way, question or doubt their judgement, but in order to master my life, I do not want to dilute the blame or resist taking full responsibility for my actions. I am completely ashamed and deeply embarrassed.
"So great was my guilt and regret that I tried to take my own life ten months ago. I have received the best of care and support both from family members and from health professionals.
"While, as might be expected, I am struggling at present with my illness and receiving treatment I am determined to regain my health and strength, and work to repair the damage I have caused to my marriage and family.
"I do not deserve a second chance but I have been given one. Nothing is more important to me."
Mrs Robinson, 60, said she had let down "thousands of people who placed their faith in me and though my medical condition was a factor, I was not, at this time, true to the values, I professed. I grieve that I have damaged my profession in Christ, but I am comforted that He was able to forgive even me".
A mother of three, she married in 1970 and was first elected to Westminster to represent Srangford in 2001.
In June 2008, just days after her husband took over as first minister from Ian Paisley, Iris Robinson went on BBC Radio Ulster and declared that gay people could become heterosexual through therapy and claimed homosexuality is an "abomination".
In the ensuring controversy she refused to back down and went on to link gay people to child abusers.
Website politics.ie reports that the story of Iris Robinson's infidelity "was discovered by Northern Ireland TV journalists," which led to her decision to stand down.
In a another highly-personal statement Peter Robinson, the first minister and MP for Belfast East since 1979, said he had considered leaving his wife after he found out about the affair.
"You will appreciate how devastated I have been about what you have learned from Iris," he said.
"This has been the most difficult period of my life and I have been deeply hurt by what has happened. I feel the pain of it every day.
"The job we do as politicians places enormous strain on all of us and at times of heavy criticism and tough decisions it is especially so.
"I understand that. I also understand that in keeping a public profile, a politician internalises the stress. It is a sign of weakness to admit to pressure and anxiety.
"We are each made differently and some of us are more capable than others of weathering these storms in our lives.
"My first knowledge of Iris's inappropriate relationship came about midnight on March 1 last year - the night she tried to take her own life.
"Each single morning since then, I have asked for the strength to carry this burden.
"My immediate impulse was to walk away from my marriage. I felt betrayed after almost 40 years of being happily and closely bonded together.
"The circumstances I face, however, caused me to take a different course. Iris, racked by guilt and sorrow, had attempted to take her own life and would certainly have been less likely to recover if I had left.
"Over time and on calmer reflection, I set her inappropriate behaviour against 40 years of bringing up our children - often alone.
"Forty years of selflessly giving me the space to pursue my beliefs; of facing public pressure for the stand I was taking and having to live with the threats and dangers my position visited upon my family.
"Those were forty years during which she supported me more than any person could reasonably have been expected to.
"Forty years where we walked the valley basin as well as the mountain paths - but most of all - forty years during which we shared a strong, loving, relationship.
"I determined that I could not walk away without making a genuine effort to see if my marriage could be saved.
"That is the road I am on. It is a road without guarantees but not without hope."
The first minister said he would be back at work tomorrow "to continue the work the people of Northern Ireland have entrusted to me.
"I will be meeting with Martin McGuinness to discuss how we might make real progress. I want 2010 to a better year for us all."
Last year Peter and Iris Robinson faced criticism after it was revealed they are paid more than £500,000 a year in salaries and expenses and employed four of their relatives at a cost of £150,000.
On December 29 Mrs Robinson announced she is to quit politics and revealed she is suffering from "serious bouts of depression".
"As many people will be aware, I have recently tried to return to the full-time work of representing my constituents following my latest period of illness," she said.
"Over the years, I have undergone a long series of operations and though I have never talked about it publicly, I have, against this background, also battled against serious bouts of depression.
"Only those who have faced similar challenges in life will know the ordeal faced by those who are profoundly depressed and the distress caused to those around them as they grapple with personality changing illness.
"One in four of the population struggle with mental illnesses at one level or another yet few talk about it openly.
"When I am better able to do so, I want to say more about this period of my life."
Her comments about homosexuality have earned her the derision and emnity of the gay community - in 2008 she was named Bigot of the Year by gay equality group Stonewall.
CLICK HERE to read the statements by Iris and Peter Robinson.
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