Fresh row as 'hospitalised' Iris Robinson is spotted in London

Published on Sunday 4 April 2010 23:07

THE Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has been forced to fight off fresh allegations surrounding Iris Robinson after she was photographed walking in London despite the party's claims she was in 24-hour hospital care.

A Sunday newspaper published photographs of the former MP strolling in the city, reportedly without her wedding ring, despite the fact her relatives said she was being treated in Belfast for psychiatric difficulties and had been on 24-hour suicide watch.

Earlier this year it was revealed Mrs Robinson, 60, had an affair with Kirk McCambley, then 19, and had lent him 50,000 borrowed from two developers to help him open a caf in south Belfast. She resigned as an MP in January.

A family statement said the press attention would have a serious impact on her recovery.

It said: "Now she can no longer follow the rehabilitation programme and will probably have to move to another hospital to get away from the cruel, callous and relentless gaze of the press.

"The newspaper seems to question that Iris was on suicide watch. The hospital and senior psychiatrist have confirmed that for over a week and periodically since then she has required such attention."

The statement said she continues to receive treatment through the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. The paper claimed she was in a London clinic favoured by some UK celebrities..

The family statement added: "This type of press sensationalis-ation always results in a very adverse reaction to her health."

The revelations followed a difficult week for her husband, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, who is under intense scrutiny after buying a strip of land near his east Belfast home for 5 which allegedly helped unlock a redevelopment deal using part of his garden which netted him around 460,000.

However, he branded political rivals "liars" in an interview on Friday. The Ulster Unionist Party has called for his resignation.