DUP Slams Iris Reports

The DUP has robustly rebuffed reports concerning Iris Robinson printed in yesterday's tabloid newspapers.

A spokesman for the party described some of the allegations made as "ruthless lies".

According to one paper, Mrs Robinson was preparing to make a 'Tiger Woods-style' public apology for her indiscretions.

The disgraced politician resigned as MP and MLA for Strangford, and a Castlereagh councillor, over a business deal made on behalf of her teenage lover.

Last night a DUP spokesman confirmed Mrs Robinson, the wife of Northern Ireland's First Minister, was continuing to receive acute psychiatric treatment and remained on a 24-hour suicide watch.

She has previously spoken very frankly about her battle with depression, and attempted to take her own life last year in the wake of her extramarital affair.

Officers from the PSNI's organised crime branch searched the offices of Castlereagh Borough Council on Saturday.

A police probe into Mrs Robinson's alleged acquisition of £50,000 for a cafe business established by the council and run by her lover Kirk McCambley continues.

The DUP, which expelled Mrs Robinson from the party last month, claimed certain sections of the press seemed resolute to "pursue her to the grave", publishing - what a spokesman described as - "relentless smear and invention".

"The truth is that Iris remains in hospital under acute psychiatric care and under 24-hour suicide watch as a result of the unremitting and ruthless lies and attacks against her," a party spokesman said.

Adding Mrs Robinson had paid a "high price" for "one indiscretion". The Robinson family is expected to take legal action against some yesterday's reports.

(PR/BMcC)