Peter Robinson denies claims

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has today rejected claims he failed to alert watchdogs when his wife allegedly…

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has today rejected claims he failed to alert watchdogs when his wife allegedly broke parliamentary rules

During an interview broadcast this evening by RTÉ, Mr Robinson defended his position and said his office would engage senior counsel to review the content of the Spotlight programme with a view to seeing if he had breached any of the obligations of office.

Referring to the BBC programme last night, Mr Robinson said: "I was not aware of any other financial arrangements . . . I believe there was no requirement in those circumstances to disclose [details] either at the Assembly or Westminister or in terms of the code of conduct for Ministers."

Questioned whether he had ever accepted monies, Mr Robinson said although he encouraged legitimate fundraising for the DUP,: "I never personally taken one penny for myself and never will."

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"It is very clear that I am being tried by the press and media. It is a court of public opinion that is determining whether I am guilty or innocent," Mr Robinson said.

Mr Robinson said taking legal action and referring the matter to standards bodies would take time.

He said "I have asked that officials in my office would engage senior counsel to look at the programme, ask any questions that they wish of me, and to arrive at an opinion as to whether I am in breach of any of the obligations of office," adding: "I don't believe I am."

He said that if he was proved to be right that he hoped those who had made the accusations would "be man enough to admit it and to say so and to apologise publicly".

"Equally, if it turns out that I was under an obligation which I did not carry out, then there are consequences for me and obviously decisions for me to take."

Concerning the content of last night's programme, Mr Robinson said there were elements in relation to his wife's affair that he had not been aware of prior to broadcast. There were also issues in relation to the "financial arrangements" of which he said he had "no knowledge".

The DUP leader said he had not been aware of details of the mobile phone texts featured in the programme which he said indicated the relationship might have gone on "longer than I had been led to believe".

Defending his own reputation, Mr Robinson said: "Let me be very clear. There is no smoking gun."

In the BBC Spotlight programme last night, Iris Robinson's former political adviser, Selwyn Black, made a series of allegations surrounding her relationship with Kirk McCambley and how she secured funding for his business.

The programme claimed Mrs Robinson secured £50,000 from two wealthy developers, who were family friends, so the then 19-year-old Mr McCambley could open a restaurant on the banks of the River Lagan.

The Strangford MP faces allegations that she did not declare her financial interest in the business despite sitting on the local council which awarded the tender to Mr McCambley in 2008.

In a statement issued earlier today, Mr Robinson said he “completely” rejects the programme’s “attempt to implicate me by insinuation and innuendo”.

He continued: “I am even more appalled by the inclusion on that programme of comments and conclusions made without any supporting facts - indeed with facts in the programme which support a contrary position.

"While I have learned from Spotlight for the first time some alleged aspects of my wife's affair and her financial arrangements, I will be resolutely defending attacks on my character and contesting any allegations of wrongdoing. To that end, I will be addressing the media today after I have taken legal advice."

Mrs Robinson faced calls from the Alliance Party and Ulster Unionist Party to step down as Strangford MP and Assembly member immediately. But potentially of more political significance in Northern Ireland, her husband is confronted with the claim that he became aware of the situation but did not alert the appropriate watchdog bodies that his wife may have broken rules, a clear breach of parliamentary rules and codes.

On Wednesday, Mrs Robinson, who said 10 days ago that she was stepping down from public life because of mental health problems, issued a statement admitting having an affair and revealing that she had tried to take her own life in March last year, four months after the relationship ended in acrimony after they rowed over the repayments of the loans.

The pair had first become close after Mrs Robinson comforted Mr McCambley following the death of his father, Billy, who was her friend. They started a sexual relationship in the summer of 2008.

"She looked out for me to make sure I was OK," Mr McCambley, now 21, told last night's Spotlight programme.

Mr Black told the documentary Mrs Robinson encouraged Mr McCambley to bid for the tender to run a cafe at the historic Lock Keeper’s Cottage, a site Castlereagh Council was redeveloping. He claimed she then obtained two £25,000 payments from the developers - Fred Fraser, who has since died, and Ken Campbell.

According to the programme, at the time Mrs Robinson was asking Mr Campbell for the money, she also lobbied on his behalf for one of his building projects in her parliamentary constituency of Strangford.

Mr McCambley said she had both cheques made out in his name but asked him for £5,000 back in cash. The council subsequently awarded him the contract to run the café.

However, it is claimed that Mrs Robinson failed to register her financial interest in the scheme to her fellow councillors. She also faces claims that she did not record the two loans on her declaration of interests at Stormont and Westminster.

Mr Black, who turned whistleblower to the investigation, said the First Minister became aware of the situation and in December 2008 urged his wife to ensure that both loans were repaid to Mr Campbell and the estate of Mr Fraser.

However, it is claimed that Mr Robinson did not alert Castlereagh Council, the Stormont Assembly, Westminster or any parliamentary watchdog that his wife may have broken rules.

“They both knew the consequences of what they had been involved in and did nothing to address that circumstance,” said Mr Black. “It goes right to the heart of credibility of government in Northern Ireland.”

The documentary team was told Mrs Robinson was too unwell to answer the allegations made in the programme.

Last night, the DUP said Mr Robinson would be contacting his lawyers about the broadcast.