Police probe over Iris Robinson's gay remarks
Complaints lead to serious crime branch inquiry
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
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Officers from the PSNI’s serious crime branch are carrying out interviews as part of an investigation into DUP MP Iris Robinson’s controversial remarks over homosexuality, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.
The First Minister's wife caused a storm when she told the House of Commons, during a debate on the assessment and management of sex offenders, that “there can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children”.
Her comments were made just days after she told a radio programme that homosexuality was an abomination and that gay people could be “cured”.
The Belfast Telegraph has learned that serious crime branch detectives have been carrying out active inquiries into the remarks following a number of complaints about incitement to hatred.
It is believed police are investigating if the remarks contravened Article 9 of the Public Order (NI) Order 1987 by using threatening, abusive or insulting words which have the likelihood to stir up hatred and arouse fear.
The Belfast Telegraph understands media organisations have been approached this week for assistance in the inquiry.
Legal sources last night said it would be normal practice for police to carry out inquiries following complaints from the public.
It is not known whether Mrs Robinson has yet been spoken to. A DUP spokesman said last night: “The DUP is committed to equality and fairness for everyone in Northern Ireland. Our record in government shows that we are working hard to bring the maximum benefits of devolution to all of Northern Ireland’s people regardless of their background.
“Our elected representatives will fulfil all the legal requirements of office and will oppose discrimination against any section of the community but maintain the right of everyone to hold and express their views freely on moral issues according to their conscience.”
Calls were made for Mrs Robinson’s resignation from public office following her comments in the House of Commons earlier this year.
When asked by the Belfast Telegraph to clarify the remarks she said that homosexuality was “comparable” to child abuse.
As the storm over her comments began to grow she made an apparent U-turn stating that the recording of the debate, which has been published on the Hansard website, did not accurately reflect her views.
In a statement issued through the DUP press office she added: “I clearly intended to say that child abuse was worse even than homosexuality and sodomy .... At no point have I set out to suggest homosexuality was worse than child sex abuse.”
But a Hansard official said that after checking audio recordings, she was satisfied the comments were reported accurately.
Days earlier Mrs Robinson told a radio show that the act of homosexuality was an abomination and that gay people can be “cured”.
Her husband, First Minister Peter Robinson, has stood by his wife.
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168 Comments
Im sorry, I really dont want to offend people who believe in religion but, how can we objectivly base a code of moral behaviour on a book, written thousands of years ago and could have been written by anyone, which has been translated many times.? A Jewish friend of mine who reads a Hebrew bible tells me that many of the ideas/codes of living in the Christian bible have been mistakes in translation from the original. Many of the stories in the old testiment in particular are morally lacking to say the least, do we really think it is better for our daughters to be raped than an act of homosexuality to occur?
Posted by ian | 08.12.08, 12:18 GMT
Iris Robinson is to be commended in having the courage to speak out against the vile practice of homosexuality. That is not the same thing as being against homosexuals as people which too often the liberal media gets confused by. God loves sinners but hates sin of any kind. Similarly people should not be blamed for their orientation any more than for any other illness;what is wrong is giving in to temptation whatever one's sexual orientation. People who live chaste lifestyles should be 'celebrated', not those who give in to what St Paul calls 'our lower nature'. There are indeed people who have been healed and other people have a right to be informed of this.
Posted by John Wainwright | 07.12.08, 15:08 GMT
So holding these views is now worthy of the serious crime squad?! Dear God, isnt there enough real serious crime around for them to be dealing with, like raiding the offices of MP's that leak information embarassing to the government?
Posted by James | 05.12.08, 20:34 GMT
That's all very well...but WHAT about her earrings????
Posted by SP | 05.12.08, 12:03 GMT
The "Thought Police" are out in full force!
Posted by Sally | 05.12.08, 08:03 GMT
Jim, your comment on paedophilia is downright offensive to people who may have been the victim of sexual abuse. Why is it that some people think they can say what they want without taking into account that their actions or words may actually hurt people? Iris Robinson thinks that she is the GREATEST person in this EARTH, well I tell you what, we are all EQUAL under God's eyes and God loves each and everyone of us just as we are. If only Iris Robinson and that Free Presbyterian Church could find something more NEEDY (like a Charity perhaps) to spend their TIME and MONEY on then the world would be a better place. Unit then, they will just continue with their UNGODLY hatred against homosexuals. What a pity that Christians have to be tarred by the same brush. And by the way, just because a Church says that they do not agree with homosexuality in the slightest doesn't mean they all members agree. I as a Roman Catholic (with many Catholic friends) know of not one against homosexuality
Posted by Christian Reader | 04.12.08, 22:18 GMT
Serious Crime???????????????? What a laugh.
Posted by Danny | 04.12.08, 20:53 GMT
Iris Robinson's detestation of homosexual practice comes from her reading of the Bible and in particular the Book of Leviticus, which she always quotes. In Leviticus Chapter 20 it says--If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an ABOMINATION, they shall surely be put to death: their blood shall be upon them-. Rev McIlveen is also fond of quoting this passage. Iris says the Bible is God's word and must be obeyed. But hold hard-- In Chapter 20 (9) It says---For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death;he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him. Ex20;12 21;17 Dt 5;16 Prov30;17 Mt15;4. And here's another cracker. Chapter 20 (10) And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Well I suppose that is one way of getting rid of divorce Lawyers.
Posted by Trevor | 04.12.08, 20:43 GMT
If evolution is true, then how do we know what is right or wrong? After all we are just atoms and molecules put together differently. Why should I have to listen to what a group of atoms and molecules tells me? Hitler just followed evolution to its logical concusion, survival of the fittest, so was he right? How can we say he was wrong?
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Charles - this is a good point. The fact is we live in a world very different from the environment which shaped our evolution. When we lived as nomads it was adaptive to band together in small groups and show hostility to outsiders. In a world with weapons of mass destruction and Irish politicions this trait is no longer adaptive so you are quite right, Hitler did follow evolution to its logical conclusion, hopefully we learn from our mistakes.
Posted by ian | 04.12.08, 18:39 GMT
To the uninitiated who may have stumbled on this discussion, let us point out that the Free Presbyterian Church and associated DUP political party is kind of like a British Christian fundamentalist sect (but that's showing fundamentalists in a bad light), and its members are very backward, bigoted and extremist individuals indeed, truly devoid of God's love. Unfortunately, for the minute, they are a majority in that backward place called Northern Ireland.
Posted by Dave | 04.12.08, 17:57 GMT
Iris's comments can be justified by the bible. And so can stoning your daughter or owning slaves. I'm sure she supports all of these actions, rather than picking or choosing.
She makes Northern Ireland sound like the European home of sanctimonious bigots.
Oh wait. It is. What a shame. I'll cross it off my tourism list.
Posted by English Traveller | 04.12.08, 16:33 GMT
Dave - 90% of hetrosexual sex is recreational, the sexual urge may be evolutionary adaptive but how we react to that urge is subject to a huge variety of internal and external influences. Ideas evolve and take on a life of their own as much as organisms. This is why people belive in religions, supernatural notions to explian what science can not take on a life of their own and by the time science can reveal the truth the threats and promises of religions have such a stranglehold that a large group of people remain backward and ignorant.
And Jim - your idea that killing someone is the same as a sexual orientation frightens me- what about the consent of the victim???
Posted by ian | 04.12.08, 12:26 GMT
As a gay man working within the Banking Industry I think its appaling that the First Ministers wife be allowed to make such offensive comments. Her remarks if directed at the blacks would have been considered racist and thus face criminal charges.
Posted by Arder Carson | 04.12.08, 10:17 GMT
Of course its all made funnier since evolution leaves no room for same sex relationships anywhere in the animal kingdom. Survival of the fittest suggests this is just a passing phase...which makes me wonder how genetic it could be and also why it magicly lay dormant until societies began to accept it, and grew as they started to encourage it. Im not fussed about taking sides here, but argueing the naturalness of homosexuality in the same breath as the definate fact of evolutiion is just silly.
Posted by dave | 04.12.08, 09:32 GMT
Whatever happened to 'Freedom of Speech'? Can people not have their own views about things and be allowed to air them publicly? or is it "you can air your views so long as the agree with mine and don't offend anyone"
Posted by CannuckCol | 04.12.08, 00:18 GMT
much ado about nothing................... for gods sake leave iris alone .
read romans 1 vs 24-32 and tell the police to wise up.
next on the "gay agenda" will be to change or rewrite the bible.
nuff said.
Posted by billy | 04.12.08, 00:12 GMT
The catch phrase 'sexual orientation' is nonsense.
By that way of thinking I guess someone such as a paedophile, has a right, without question, to interfere sexually, with little children.
After all, that would be his ( paedophile's ) 'sexual orientation.' Right.?
Jim
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No Jim, that's abuse. You're obviously as intelligent as Iris.
Posted by AM | 03.12.08, 23:53 GMT
I have no issues with people having strong beliefs, I have Christian, Muslim, Sikh & Hindu friends, they all have their own beliefs and I respect them, but I draw a line with any of them if their beliefs are detrimental to the welfare of any other human being.
Iris Robinson's outspoken views are pathetic, sad and completely out of order, I feel sorry for any Christians who share this opinion, and that includes some members of my own family, what sort of god do you people believe in?
Homesexuality is not a disease that can be 'cured', what total ignorance simply because it does not fit into the box of traditional Christian views, people do not chose their sexuality, they are born with it; it comes naturally.
Iris was elected to represent ALL people in Northern Ireland, not to preach intolerance, and the silence in the DUP has been deafening, so I for one will NOT be voting DUP again at the next election.
Posted by Steven | 03.12.08, 23:46 GMT
The woman merely reflects the bigoted, intolerant and arrogant mind-set of the DUP. Ulster deserves better.....you never should have voted in Sinn Fein and DUP. Their attitudes are those of dinosaurs.
I am by no way promoting homosexuality but science has clearly stated that it is not a question of choice....it's genes. So let gay and lesbian people get on with their lives....that's all they want to do.
Iris Robinson is a disgrace.....a person in her position should have more discretion and tact.
Her statements are carefully calculated....she knows only too well what she is doing
Posted by s gilmartin | 03.12.08, 23:45 GMT
Have the thought police nothing better to do, very soon it will be compulsary. Free speech is dead.
Posted by gavin | 03.12.08, 23:24 GMT
168 Comments