Robinson’s wife: Affair led me to attempt suicide

THE wife of the North’s first minister has confirmed she tried to kill herself last March over the guilt she felt over an extra-marital affair.

Iris Robinson and her husband, Peter, both made statements yesterday confirming the affair and saying they were trying to rebuild their marriage.

Ms Robinson, who announced 10 days ago that she was stepping down as a member of the British Parliament and as a Stormont MLA due to depression, blamed the liaison on a period of serious mental illness during which she said she lost control of her life.

“It began completely innocently, when I gave support to someone following a family death. I encouraged friends to assist him by providing financial support for a business venture. Regrettably, the relationship later developed into a brief affair. So great was my guilt and regret that I tried to take my own life 10 months ago.”

In his statement, Mr Robinson said he learned of his wife’s “inappropriate relationship” on March 1 last year, the night she tried to kill herself.

“Each single morning since then I have asked for the strength to carry this burden. I admit that my immediate impulse was to walk away from my marriage. I felt betrayed after almost 40 years of being happily and closely bonded together.”

Ms Robinson is no stranger to controversy. In 2008 she described homosexuality as an abomination and suggested gay people could be “turned round” by psychiatric treatment.

She was also recorded as telling a Commons committee on June 17 that homosexuality was more vile than the abuse of children.

Mr Robinson’s deputy, Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin, said: “Nobody watching this evening’s interview by Peter could fail to be moved by obvious hurt and pain being experienced by the Robinson family.

“Despite Peter’s public role he is entitled to privacy as he and his family seek to deal with this matter. I wish them well as they seek to rebuild relationships away from the public glare.”