Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson’s wife has been cleared of any wrongdoing over the awarding of a council business deal to her former lover, it emerged last night.
The review was ordered last year after reports that Iris Robinson had an affair with a teenager and borrowed money to help him set up business leasing a cafe from Castlereagh Borough Council, where she was a representative.
Mrs Robinson left the council, as well as her Assembly and Westminster seats, after the scandal broke.
But last night councillors given a private briefing on the review said it cleared the council and its representatives of wrong-doing.
DUP group leader on the council, Jimmy Spratt, said: “This report brings this chapter in the history of Castlereagh Borough Council to a close.” He added: “There is no evidence of wrongdoing by officers of the council or either past or current councillors.”
Mrs Robinson, who it was already decided was not to face criminal charges, left public life and has been on medical care for treatment for mental illness. She made her return to the spotlight last week as she accompanied her husband at the dinner hosted for the Queen in Dublin by President Mary McAleese.
Mr Spratt said: “Over the last 14 months, Iris, Peter and their family have been in our thoughts and prayers and we were delighted that Iris felt able to attend the banquet to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s visit to the Irish Republic last week.
“We send her continued best wishes for a full recovery.”
PA