Latest news with #IrisRobinson
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Iris Robinson has shown ‘remarkable courage and tenacity' in cancer fight
Peter Robinson has praised the 'remarkable courage and tenacity' of his wife Iris as she battles cancer. The former DUP leader and first minister said an event to unveil his portrait at Stormont's Parliament Buildings had been delayed for some time due to the 'unpredictable ups and downs' of his wife's illness. Mr Robinson retired from politics in 2016. His wife Iris Robinson is also a former DUP MP and MLA, but has stayed out of public life since it emerged in 2010 that she had had an affair and gave developers' money to her teenage lover. Mr Robinson told a ceremony in the Great Hall at Stormont that it had been 'some considerable time since I retired'. He added: 'It is in no sense any tardiness on the part of the Speaker's Office, the commission or the Assembly staff that it has taken seven or eight years for this event to occur. 'Some of you will know that for the past few years my wife Iris has had cancer, she has been operated and battling through it. 'But it still provides unpredictable ups and downs.' Speaking to the media afterwards, Mr Robinson said his wife had gone through an operation and there had been complications. He said: 'I don't want to go into the health issues but she has a remarkable courage and tenacity. 'She is going through the ups and downs. One say she is in perfect form and the next day she is having to deal with issues. 'So it is with all who have gone through that difficult experience. 'Probably it brings me out with a lot more respect for those who are involved in our health services. 'We really do have some tremendous people working in our hospitals and elsewhere in our health service. 'They don't get the credit that they deserve. 'Maybe a bit more of the funding should go to them rather than those who are administrators of the process.'
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Peter Robinson: Iris Robinson's ups and downs after cancer diagnosis
The former DUP leader and First Minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson, has spoken for the first time of his wife Iris' battle with revealed she had faced "ups and downs" in recent years, which he said had contributed to delays in the unveiling of his official portrait at unveiling took place at Stormont on Tuesday, with a special event marking the 76-year-old's contribution to who retired almost a decade ago, said dealing with his wife's illness had contributed to a "considerable delay" in the event taking place. Robinson was DUP leader and first minister from 2008 until wife Iris was also a former DUP MLA and MP but resigned following a financial and marital scandal in has largely stayed out of attending frontline political events in the 15 years since those who attended Tuesday's event were Robinson's children, the Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and other Stormont portrait was done by artist Carol Graham who also commissioned the painting of former Speaker Lord current Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots also paid tribute to Robinson, saying it was "no coincidence" that the longest period of political stability happened during Robinson's time in office."Peter and his skills ensured this assembly didn't have the interruptions that happened previously or afterwards," he said, adding that he felt the institutions were in a "better position" now than they had been for some time. 'Critics in the cheap seats' Robinson also hit out at those who he called "critics in the cheap seats", or those who would seek to abuse politicians on social media."I salute those who have stood up to intimidation but nonetheless it has an impact and discourages people from coming forward for public service," he said it seemed "disproportionately directed" towards ended his remarks by saying that there were "boundless opportunities" to improve the lives of people in Northern Ireland."We have something very special - for those who haven't lived through dark days we now have people living in a shared society, with so much work yet to be done."
Irish Independent
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Fionola Meredith: I interviewed Iris Robinson in her pomp... but the mask only slipped when I turned off the recorder
Revisiting the Iris Robinson scandal took me back to a different time in my life. A new BBC documentary, Hold The Front Page: Investigating Iris Robinson, aired this week. It was a retrospective look at the extraordinary Spotlight probe that ultimately toppled Iris's husband, First Minister Peter Robinson, from power, and sent Iris to the political wilderness, from which she has never re-emerged.
Belfast Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
I interviewed Iris Robinson when she was in her pomp... but the mask only slipped when I turned off the recorder
A new BBC documentary, Hold The Front Page: Investigating Iris Robinson, aired this week. It was a retrospective look at the extraordinary Spotlight probe that ultimately toppled Iris's husband, First Minister Peter Robinson, from power, and sent Iris to the political wilderness, from which she has never re-emerged.
