Iris Robinson was having an affair behind husband Peter's back - story about to break

[pd_phoenix]

I also noticed that in archive footage they used of him sitting down at his desk there were copies of the Belfast Telegraph, the Newsletter, and the Irish Times.

BTW, did anyone hear Suzanne Breen on Morning Ireland this morning? I thought she was a tad harsh...! (And incorrect that the Spotlight programme was due to be broadcast tonight; I believe it is many weeks off, but it was their list of questions that he received from them at the start of the week that prompted this...)

I didn't hear it harsh in what way?

[Libero]

Well until there is something concrete, a responsible publication would refrain from speculation. Alas for responsible publications though?

The thing is: imagine there was no affair.

In that case, a newspaper would be within its rights to identify the man at the centre of allegations about financial dealings with an elected representative - subject to proper standards of coverage (e.g. asking for his side of the story, giving a right of reply, etc.), not defaming the man and making clear he's innocent until proven otherwise.

And if we accept that principle - that it's in the public interest to allow media identification of the man ewhen the story is about money - it's hard to argue he suddenly deserves to have his identity protected because of the added element of a brief sexual relationship.

I expect newspapers that don't care much for the financial story will use it as an excuse to report personal details that pertain to the "sex scandal with a Catholic" story.

[rant_and_rave]

Following an investigation by a television current affairs programme, it has emerged that Iris Robinson has been conducting an extra marital affair in recent times. The story was discovered by Northern Ireland TV journalists and the Robinson's twigged that it was about to emerge 10 days ago - hence Iris' stepping down from politics because of alleged depression.

The story will break to the non Politics.ie world at 6pm on news bulletins (I am led to believe UTV). As far as I am aware, there is no question of Peter standing down at this point.

I am looking forward to the gory details. A lesbian affair would be icing on the cake.

[Indy-pendant]

Think of the irony...!

Sympathy for Mrs Robinson may be tempered in some quarters by recollections of her strident rhetoric in the past.

She has even denounced Hillary Clinton for accepting her husband's infidelities, saying: “No woman would put up with what she tolerated from her husband when he was President.

“She was thinking only of her future political career. It's all about power and not principle.”

Read more: Peter Robinson: You’re on your own now and it’s going to be a difficult journey - Local & National, News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

also, it's interesting that I've a feeling that those posters who are saying "Let 'em be - it's a private thing" seem to totally discount the financial questions - I'd love to trawl through and see if there are common elements - such as political allegiances...?

[rant_and_rave]

Whilst I have little time for the primitive mindset of the DUP, I have sympathy for anyone who suffers with mental illness and whilst I 'dont like' Iris Robinson or her husband, I agree that the mystery man is entitled to privacy, but considering the absolute moral deficit of the tabloids and sadly many of the broadsheets, I fully expect the identity to become public in short order.

Sod his privacy. Anyone who has an affair with a married politician waives their right to anonymity.

[rant_and_rave]

Over 39,000 views of this thread in less than 8 hours.....wonder if that's a Politics.ie record....

Sex sells.

[slumdog1971]

I dont see how the actions of his wife is a resigning mater for him, she could be dating the pope and its not his fault....

I don't see how the actions of his wife is a matter at all.

It seems to me that this is a story being put out there to detract from the upcoming financial scandal. It looks as if Iris is going to take the rap for all of the carry on in the Paisley household.

I just hope that pictures exist of Iris in a romantic clinch with a recently converted lesbian catholic single mother of 6 from the falls road in West Belfast.

[gaius hippingo]

The thing is: imagine there was no affair.

In that case, a newspaper would be within its rights to identify the man at the centre of allegations about financial dealings with an elected representative - subject to proper standards of coverage (e.g. asking for his side of the story, giving a right of reply, etc.), not defaming the man and making clear he's innocent until proven otherwise.

And if we accept that principle - that it's in the public interest to allow media identification of the man ewhen the story is about money - it's hard to argue he suddenly deserves to have his identity protected because of the added element of a brief sexual relationship.

I expect newspapers that don't care much for the financial story will use it as an excuse to report personal details that pertain to the "sex scandal with a Catholic" story.

Spot on there Libero, thats pretty much an accurate analysis, you dont work in media perchance, do you?

[Chrisco]

I didn't hear it harsh in what way?

She said the whole thing was a fraud designed to pre-empt tonight's Spotlight (which isn't to be shown for several weeks in fact), that he looked 'down' now but didn't look 'down' back in March 2009 when this was meant to have occurred etc. etc.

Essentially that the whole thing was a show to distract from their finances.

[factual]

Warning

People are presuming a lot about this Spotlight programme which has not been aired and we cannot really judge the whole story for a few weeks until it airs, if it does.