SENIOR OFFICIALS from Belfast City Council held talks yesterday with Dr Selwyn Black, the former adviser to Iris Robinson who helped expose her relationship with Kirk McCambley and the financial loans she raised for her lover’s Lock Keeper’s Inn business.
The council, which also employs Dr Black as a stress counsellor for employees, sought the meeting to seek clarification about his former work with Ms Robinson and whether he was a political or some other form of adviser to her.
The meeting, it is understood, was also held to examine whether his “whistleblower” role in Ms Robinson’s personal and financial affairs could have implications for his work with the council, and whether staff now might have confidentiality concerns in dealing with Dr Black.
Dr Black’s company Apheideo Associates has a contract with Belfast City Council going back to 2003 worth over £42,000 annually. His current contract is due to run out this summer. Employees suffering from stress, or off work because of that condition, are frequently referred to Apheideo Associates. He deals personally with such staff or brings in other stress counsellors to work with them.
“Council officials met Dr Black [yesterday] morning to explore any issues around his contract. We keep all contracts under review,” a council spokesman said yesterday.
Dublin City Council also employed Dr Black and Apheideo Associates in 2008 to evaluate the council’s in-house support services, a council spokesman confirmed yesterday.
Belfast City Council is also seeking clarification about what was his specific working relationship with Ms Robinson. He worked for her as an adviser for some two years, standing down from that position in the autumn of last year. For part of that period she was chairwoman of the Assembly health committee.
One source said questions would arise if it emerged that Dr Black actually worked for the DUP or as a political adviser rather than as an adviser on health issues.
“If he was a DUP political adviser then issues would arise for the council because all the main parties including the DUP are on the council, and there could be questions over matters of political allegiance,” explained one source.
"There are also issues over whether employees suffering from stress would be happy to deal with Dr Black considering his role in the BBC Spotlightprogramme and the detail he provided about Iris Robinson's affair with Kirk McCambley and her financial dealings. There could be privacy and confidentiality concerns," the source added.
Dr Black would make no comment when asked about these matters by The Irish Timesyesterday evening. He referred all questions to the BBC press office in Belfast. A press officer said there was "no comment" to be made on behalf of Dr Black.
In relation to Dr Black’s official position at Stormont, a Department of Health spokesman said he was not employed by the department. The Assembly press office said he did not work for the health committee. A DUP spokesman said he did not work for the DUP.