Ireland's top political couple goes public over affair and suicide bid

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson (left), poses with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (centre), and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (right). Photo / WPA Pool/Getty Images

The wife of Northern Ireland's most senior politician, a politician herself, has sensationally revealed that she had attempted to take her life while depressed after having an affair.

Iris Robinson is also a government official. She is a Westminster MP and a member of the Belfast Assembly.

Robinson said that she had acted "in a manner which was self-destructive and out of character" during severe bouts of depression.

Her husband, Peter Robinson, who as First Minister heads Belfast's powersharing government, made an anguished appearance on television to outline the events that have been the subject of rumour and speculation for weeks.

"You will appreciate how devastated I have been," said Peter.

"This has been the most difficult period of my life and I have been deeply hurt by what has happened. I feel the pain of it every day."

He maintained that he would not resign.

In her own public statement, Iris said, "I lost control of my life and did the worst thing that I have ever done. Over a year and a half ago, I was involved in a relationship. It began completely innocently when I gave support to someone following a family death ..."

The First Minister said his knowledge of his wife's "inappropriate relationship" came at midnight on 1 March last year, when she tried to take her own life.

My immediate impulse was to walk away from my marriage," he said.

"I felt betrayed after almost 40 years of being happily and closely bonded together. The circumstances I face, however, caused me to take a different course.

"Iris, racked by guilt and sorrow, had attempted to take her own life and would certainly have been less likely to recover if I had left. I determined that I could not walk away without making a genuine effort to see if my marriage could be saved. ... I love my wife. I have always been faithful to her. In a spirit of humility and repentance, Iris sought my forgiveness."

- INDEPENDENT, NZ HERALD STAFF