Robinson under pressure to apologise to businessman

A Northern businessman is calling on the North's First Minister-in-waiting to withdraw allegations he made against him two years ago.

In February 2006, Peter Robinson used parliamentary privilege to accuse Peter Curistan of having links with the IRA.

Since then, a senior lawyer acting for the British government has told a court the allegations were untrue, as has an assistant chief constable and a High Court judge.

British minister Paul Goggins has also stated in the British House of Commons that the claims are unfounded.

Mr Curistan, a property developer who built the Odyssey centre in Belfast, has now reiterated his call for Mr Robinson to withdraw the allegation and apologise to him, his family and the staff who work for his companies.