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Gail Walker: Iris is now paying the price for her lust...and greed

Friday, 8 January 2010

For the headline writers and the local satirists it is a story beyond their wildest dreams and imaginings.

Take one Mrs Robinson, an attractive, sexy, powerful, older woman. Add in an affair ... with a much younger man.

It is, of course, the plotline from The Graduate, one of the most celebrated films of the 1960s.

And it is also now, in a truly sensational turn of events, the real-life drama engulfing our very own Mrs Robinson and her First Minister husband, Peter.

It is impossible to banish images of Anne Bancroft seducing a very young and naive Dustin Hoffman — though even in the film he is meant to be in his 20s and his would-be amoureuse, her 40s.

Indeed, pastiches of the famous poster with its sensuous stockinged leg — and worse — are already pinging into email inboxes throughout Northern Ireland.

The disclosures of Wednesday evening, when people turned on the tea-time bulletins expecting to see what village in Co Armagh was under the most snow, and were instead confronted by the astonishing — and moving — spectacle of their normally stern-faced First Minister fighting back tears in a 10-minute press statement, were shocking and riveting by turns.

His wife had had an affair. She had tried to take her own life. They were fighting to save their marriage.

But the latest allegation that Iris’s affair was with Kirk McCambley, then 19 and young enough to be her grandson, has added a new level of bizarreness and distaste to the story. Add to that last night’s claims by Spotlight. . .

This sordid tale of money, power and sex is like a Watergate by the Lagan.

Strange enough against the narrow background of general Ulster conservatism, but absolutely unbelievable against the background of the DUP’s evangelical and unashamedly puritanical ethos.

How on earth is this scandal — for that is what it is — playing in the homes of the party faithful in Ballymena and Desertmartin, never mind in the wider population where there has been genuine sympathy for Mr Robinson since that harrowing interview?

Is that sympathy not in danger of being overwhelmed by a wave of ridicule bordering on disgust?

While it could be argued many will feel even greater pity for the unsavoury nature of the circumstances Peter Robinson finds himself in, none the less it appears he is at the centre of it.

And given the extent of the allegations in the programme, the fact that one of those making the allegations had been until recently a confidante of, and adviser to, his wife, and another informant on screen was McCambley himself, it is quite remarkable that the First Minister chose not to address any of those issues in his televised statement.

As regards Iris, herself, even the dynamics of the affair are fraught with ironies. Perhaps it is unfair, but the fact this is an older woman with a younger man will probably make it even more shocking.

However, look at this way. If it had been a 60-year-old man of the world politician who’d been caught having a fling with a teenage girl, there would be howls of outrage, too. So, what on earth could have possessed Iris Robinson, a mum of three, to embark on such, as her loyal husband put it, “inappropriate behaviour”? Why would she risk it all?

Sometimes, there are clues, and going by Iris’s own press statement, this relationship began innocently when she sought to comfort young McCambley following the death of his father.

The heightened emotions of grief, allied to her own fragile mental state, could have led to a loss of perspective. These things happen. But there is a cold core in the allegations which can be summed up in one word. Greed.

Perhaps Iris had literally lost her mind? Depressed people do desperate things. And judging from her statement about this matter she certainly points to her mental illness as the prime factor in causing her to “lose control of my life” and resulting in her doing the “worst thing I have ever done”.

But, of course, that only leads to the question: why was she depressed in the first place?

Could the reckless relationship — to sound like an armchair psychologist — not have been a determination at some level to shatter a life that may have become overly restricted, patrolled as it was by her own ambition, the image that she had created of herself and the expectations of the party’s followers and the wider public?

One error of judgment, though, especially in a private life so closely policed as hers, can lead quite rapidly to other miscalculations. The walls come tumbling down. Iris Robinson’s public career is most definitely over.

The only question remaining is will she also bring down her husband’s. Last night’s serious allegations regarding money and abuse of power cast a darker shadow than confessions of infidelity.

The allegations of financial impropriety need to be not only answered, but completely refuted in full. Otherwise it’s goodbye First Minister.

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53 Comments

Ann is quite right in her observation that Mrs Robinson has been denied due process. I would go further so as to argue that she has been hung out to dry by her party.

Perhaps others are like me and recall that the party machine was often quite happy to put Iris on the radio to make the kind of statements that several members of the party secretly thought, but would never have dared say. I'm quite sure that several of the Free Presbyterians agreed with her stance on homosexuality and were happy for her to go on the Nolan Show and shoot her mouth off, while they declined to comment in the wave of angry public reaction.

Iris has been encouraged to speak for a certain demographic in N.I., but it seems that the party feels that she has outlived her usefulness.

Posted by Catriona | 12.01.10, 18:12 GMT

Catriona - she is not "obviously ill", how dare people imply that if someone is caught out doing something wrong there is a mental disorder - Many women stay in unhappy marriages, it makes them stupid, scared or greedy but not mentally ill. Mental illness is a very serious illness and not a mask to hide behind.

Posted by Toughschmittyiris | 12.01.10, 10:18 GMT

Because she didnt afford the gay community the opportunity to defend themselves Ann. Too busy name calling, being sanctamonious, pious and judgement, from her pedestal. So due process only works if you are prepared to hear both sides -- it doesnt work if you think "there is only two ways - my way and the wrong way!

Posted by Toughshcmittyiris | 12.01.10, 10:04 GMT

I may be in the minority here-but hasnt anyone else wondered at the way that Mrs Robinson appears to have been denied due proccess? She was very simply swiftly booted out of the party, and was not given any opportunity to explain/defend herself and/or actions. I find this aspect of the Robinson saga strange-even the worst of the worst are afforded the opportunity to defend themselves-So why not Iris?????

Posted by ann | 12.01.10, 02:35 GMT

Ok here's the thing --I'm no fan of Iris Robinson's opinions and we all know that Ms Walker has column inches to fill but that really is no excuse for being so vitriolic about an obviously ill woman .I met her once socially 3 years ago and it was obvious to me even then that she was a very unhappy lady and watching the interaction with her husband that there were obvious strains and issues there -which I am sure will emerge very soon in the press. What is to be gained by you standing in judgement ( and such harsh judgement) of a woman at her lowest ebb ? Leave her alone out of basic human compassion if for no other reason . As for her husband remaining 1st Minister -that is untenable and it is typical of the lack of decency of our politicians that he doesn't stand down with dignity -instead of 6 wks 'Jackanory' with Arlene

Posted by Catriona | 12.01.10, 01:26 GMT

She is a greedy, self-obsessed woman who thinks that she has carte blanche to do as she pleases, simply because she's Iris Robinson. If things don't work out, she always has the forgiveness of her lord!
Absolutely right one one thing though, she is a sick woman!

Posted by Ruth Wilson | 11.01.10, 14:25 GMT

goodbye and good riddance to these homophobics

Posted by Michael | 11.01.10, 13:42 GMT

I think this is in the tradition of History's distaff sexually libertine women in leadership positions such as Cleopatra, Catherine the Great and ever Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco. It's unaccpetable in it's own context though for two reasons. First the payouts came not as royal "gifts" but out of the public purse of a democracy. And second: that idiot Oliver Cromwell whose repressive Puritan views on human sexuality continue to be bought into, even by Mrs Robinson herself!

Posted by Chris M | 11.01.10, 11:23 GMT

I still haven't forgiven Mrs Robinson for her comments about homosexuality in June/July 2008. As we now know that this was also the same time as she was committing adultery, we can only conclude that we are dealing with perhaps one of the biggest hypocrites of our time?

Yes, I'm no saint but I'm not receiving thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money every year.

Posted by Matthew K. | 11.01.10, 11:07 GMT

Quote - "what has her personal life got to do with the public anyway?" - It has everything to do with the public. She interferes with vile public statements in the personal lives of gay men and women - just check "gays more vile than child abusers". She is a leading politician who only made things worse for gay people in the country in Europe - to quote another contributor: "Dont kick someone when they are down". Pity Mrs Robinson could not live by that advice. I hope for her and her family's sake that she is not ill, but I can't help feeling that given the woman's hypocrisy on sexual morality that Schaendfraude is well enjoyed in this case.

Posted by Schadenfraude | 11.01.10, 10:39 GMT

Indeed - if this was a 60 year old man, and 20 year old woman, the story might hardly have had a mention, Italy's septugenarian lothario, Berlusconi is even something of a folk hero, so Mrs Robinson has possibly achieved more on behalf of women's lib, than she has destroyed in party political uprightness. Remember, gentlemen, to treat your 60 year old wives with real love, tenderness and affection, because they need it as much as any appealing 20 year old, that may take your own fancy.
I trust Iris, and her family will find a way through, and I hope deception, dishonesty and infidelity gain no more ground.

Posted by ensnaturae | 11.01.10, 08:02 GMT

Surely this is one of the better articles on the whole Iris Robinson / Kirk McCambley story. There is a recognition of a deep mystery here; there is also a sense of sadnes, and a sensitivity which so many other articles have lacked.

Did Iris Robinson set out to have this relationship with Kirk McCambley? Did he set out to have this relationship with her?

Who felt the guilt? Who called it all off at the end? We don't know the answers to those questions yet, but we may know one day.

Posted by Ken | 11.01.10, 00:59 GMT

Good on you Iris. If I look as good as you at 60 and can pull someone that age, I will be more than happy!

Shame on all you preachers - what has her personal life got to do with the public anyway?

Live and let live.

Posted by irish | 11.01.10, 00:10 GMT

i wish people would step back from this and see that the robinsons are ordinary people like you and me.
This woman has done wrong but for gods sake she is obviously very ill and all this comparisons to the graduate etc are horrible.
Dont kick someone when they are down.
she has enough guilt to deal with without this ridicule.
No matter what she has said in the past have some compassion for them and their children and the rest of the family.
I genuinely feel very sorry for peter robinson and this situation he looks devastated by this.
As for Mr McCambley he should have kept his mouth shut about this instead of making the situation worse for her.
Terrible state of affairs

Posted by brenda | 10.01.10, 12:28 GMT

Gail
While "Depressed people do desperate things", with suicide a real risk,it is most unusual to embark on an affair, while in a depressed state-the libido is usually just too drastically impaired. Getting out of bed is a major challenge.
However, if the mental health condition is a bi-polar disorder, in the 'manic' rather than 'depressed' phase, disinhibition, overspending, increased libido & uncharacteristic behaviour are frequent warning signs.
Perhaps it is the mental health diagnosis which is misleading. With the stigma still attached to mental illness, it is often more acceptable to be seen as 'depressed' than 'manic'

Posted by Sara | 10.01.10, 00:37 GMT

God pay's his debt's without money, Mrs Robinson, maybe you should have considered this before you embarked on your so called christian crusade or should we say peracusation of those you belived you could wipe off your shoe. The public of Northern Ireland have very little pity for you, you have managed to destroy not only the life of a young man, but what do you think you have done to you children. Shame on you, may your God forgive you because I'm sure others will find it very diddicult.

Posted by In God We Trust | 09.01.10, 22:44 GMT

Mr. Robinson cannot stand apart from his wife in his proclaimed innocence - Caesar's wife must be above suspicion as well.

Posted by Sean | 09.01.10, 12:09 GMT

The Robinsons should be ashamed of themselves. Over the years they have been paid Millions, £600,000 this year alone. That was not enough, they believe they are untouchable. When Iris Robinson tried to commit suicide, she should have left office and the pay behind. The real Issue: Peter and his wife did not want to loss their million pound business unlike the rest of the real poor people in Northern Ireland. If they do not have jobs neither does their children. So he tried to cover it up. Give the money back, with no questions asked. I am sure if the rumours of their sleazy life had not been exposed they would not have told the public the truth . They are not bigger than GOD, they should both resign immediately. Investigations should be made into dealing with both property developers : see what favours they received in exchange for £50k. Both should go.

Posted by AP | 09.01.10, 11:53 GMT

Financial wrongdoing and blatant hypocrisy is bad in any situation, but when it so obviously affects governance and the public interest is it intolerable. There is a lot of it around though and this revelation is just another slimy layer in an altogether rancid, putrifying cake. Ireland (North and South) may thankfully be 'at peace' but it still needs major shifts in its socio-political (and economic)culture. Sigh....

Posted by weary-eye | 09.01.10, 11:52 GMT