Iris Robinson MP, MLA, and wife of Northern Ireland’s First Minister, has admitted that she tried to kill herself after confessing that she had had an affair. Mr Robinson said he was determined to save his marriage and insisted that he would stay on as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.
Nine days ago Mrs Robinson declared that she was quitting politics because of a battle with depression. Speculation has been rife since then about further revelations. Mr Robinson has not been at his office since Christmas, sparking anger when he failed to comment on the death of Cardinal Daly and failed to attend his funeral.
During a period of mental illness Mrs Robinson said that she lost control of her life and did the worst thing that she had ever done. She said that the affair had no emotional or lasting meaning. She said: “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 judgment. 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.”
She disclosed how at midnight on March 1 last year she tried to take her own life when she confessed to the affair because of the guilt that she felt. Hours later her husband was at the dispatch box answering questions at the Northern Ireland Assembly.
In 2008 Mrs Robinson courted controversy when she claimed in the House of Commons, that homosexuality was an abomination and it made her feel sick and nauseous. In a subsequent interview she defended her views saying that "just as a murderer can be redeemed by the blood of Christ, so can a homosexual.... If anyone takes issue, they're taking issue with the word of God.” She added: “There can be no viler act, (apart from homosexuality and sodomy) than sexually abusing innocent children.”* So, she said that homosexuality was worse than paedophilia? That’s some statement to make.
In June 2009 Mrs Robinson and her husband were criticised when it became known that they had between them salaries and expenses of £571,939.41 with a further £150,000 going in salaries to members of their families.
Now I respect people’s religious views and I even respect the right of an MP to express these personal views in a public way, although it must have been a pretty embarrassing moment for her husband. However, as Mrs Robinson’s life is so clearly directed by the teachings of the Bible, could I remind her that adultery is a sin. “Thou shalt not commit adultery” is, if I remember aright, the seventh commandment. And aren’t there numerous referenced in the Bible to riches and their incompatibility with godliness? For example, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24. Further could I just remind her that attempted suicide is against the "natural order" and thus interferes with God's master plan for the world? Those who succeed in killing themselves can not be buried in consecrated ground.
I wonder if Mrs Robinson has a clear idea of what the word hypocrite means?
* Information from Wikipedia
What an odious little woman. So she thinks I am worse than a phaedo because I am a bisexual? Still, I wouldnt want to wish her ill. Just don't need to like her at all.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a far better world if people minded their own business and religion remained spiritual rather than confrontational and judgemental.
ReplyDeleteWhat people get up to in their own time and without harming or otherwise affecting others (such as excessive allowances ripping off the taxpayer perhaps) is just that, a private matter and not the business of Mrs Robinson.
Dean: Spot on. That is a dreadful thing to have said, and I can't imagine any God condoning it. Didn't Jesus say "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". So, between feathering her nest, attempting suicide, and having it off with a bloke (we assume it was a bloke) outside marriage she could hardly put herself in the “without sin” bracket. Better for her to shut her stupid big mouth on matters she knows nothing of.
ReplyDeleteQM: I agree completely. I have no idea how some people manage to turn a force for good into so much bloody evil. I don’t know why she felt it tappropriate to comment on any of this. It's not the business of parliament, and as she is an MP and a MLA, I would have thought she had enough on her plate without getting involved in hate campaigns.
ReplyDeleteI always respect people's religions, no matter what they are, but I don't think we pay her to make ridiculous statement inciting hate. She seems to have sin aplenty on her own doorstep without getting herself involved in any one else’s.
Channel 4 reported that her lover was young enough to be her grandson. People in glasshouses....
ReplyDeleteWhy this woman thinks her affair is anyone's business but her own defeats me. I'm not interested. There's something unbalanced about someone who has to 'fess up to this type of behaviour.
ReplyDeleteAs for her other remarks they don't deserve a comment.
It just seems to get worse Anon. It makes my flesh creep.
ReplyDeleteSR. I imagine that someone had got hold of the story and was going to make it public. Although she is finished as a politician her husband is still First Minister of the province. I suppose they though that it was better they released it than some scandal rag.
ReplyDeleteThey will miss the two salaries though. £572,000 a year... wow....what a decent person could do with that kind of money.
I'm imagining that God will not be too happy with her at this point in time. After all if its her mission to make us all aware of the abomination of homosexuality how could she go and destroy herself and deprive the world of that?
ReplyDeleteMunguin:
ReplyDeletePeople like her make me wonder about religious belief. I don't know too much about any of it, but what I remember from 12 years of indoctrination at school was that fundamentally being a Christian means being a good person. Whatever you can say about the Old Testament, Jesus was au fond GOOD.
So then you get these people, like this woman who seems to me to be a bit on the BAD side. I listed some of the bad stuff above, and I think to myself, how can this woman possibly think that these are a place in heaven for her? On the surface she’s respectable and hard working, but underneath it all she’s on the fiddle, and she’s transgressed God’s law in at least a couple of ways. I dare say that while she’s been having an affair she’s done a power of lying too.
Another lying politician with a “one rule for you, and another for me” mantra.
Yea that’s true, you will notice that despite the fact that she broke one of the 10 commandments and tried to break another, she gets to be forgiven. How convenient for her! I imagine that as homosexuals are not actually breaking any of the ten commandments, like she did, how much forgiveness would they be getting?
ReplyDeleteIn short she is a sickening hypocrite who twists religion to fit her bigoted opinions.
And her and her family AKA the swish family Robinson are all on the hey diddle diddle to boot. Do they not think that God knows that?
ReplyDeleteCan't fault that analysis-- and conclusion-- Munguin.
ReplyDeleteAre they not in the same party as the Rev Dr Paisley?
There wasn't a lot of understanding and peace about him either. They sound like a truely nasty lot.
Yes they are all Democratic Unionists aint they. The good Dr Paisley knew plenty about multiple salaries he was an MEP an MP and a MLA and first Minister of Northern Ireland. If Annabel Goldie had been there she would have had kittens about all that until of course one of her MSPs wanted to be an MP as well, at the same time. Since then she has been remarkably quiet on the subject, I wonder why?
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Independent, the BBC are researching a programme on their financial affairs.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/meet-the-robinsons-a-couple-in-a-perfect-storm-1861110.html
from which:
“The BBC in Northern Ireland is preparing a television documentary investigating these – which explains the timing of Peter’s announcements.”
They also mention, as anon did, that her paramour was a “young” man. I wonder what THAT means!!