British made up abuse stories, says Robinson’s wife

THE wife of in-coming DUP leader Peter Robinson yesterday claimed the British government manufactured rumours he was violently abusive to her.

MP for Strangford Iris Robinson said she wanted to end the whispering campaign which she insisted was untrue.

“This malicious rumour was started by the [British] government in an attempt to blacken Peter’s name when he was protesting at the Anglo-Irish Agreement. It took root because I was in hospital 17 times during that period with gynaecological problems,” she told the Sunday Tribune. Mr Robinson, who is expected to take over as the North’s First Minister when Ian Paisley steps down in June, held talks with Taoiseach-designate Brian Cowen last week and has promised to take a more “businesslike” approach to power-sharing with Sinn Féin. Ms Robinson, who is also a member of the Belfast Assembly, admitted being disappointed Mr Paisley had not given her a ministerial post in the North’s Executive.