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Iris Robinson is Ashamed of Affair… and What Else?

This evening, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson, and his wife, MP Iris Robinson, released individual statements to the press. They both tell the story of why, on December 28th 2009, Mrs Robinson said she would not seek re-election as MP. They both told the story of her depression, extra-marital affair and her suicide attempt.

Mr. Robinson’s reads painfully, as one would expect. While it is horrible to find that your marriage vows have been broken, it would be immeasurably worse to know that once this is revealed, it will open up a whole new era of invasion into your private lives. To also have gone through a suicide attempt of a loved one — even one who has betrayed you — is a singularly defining experience, and one that is familiar, unfortunately, to far too many people. Anybody who has not spent the nights awake, worried a loved one would die by their own hand, can understand the life this man has lived while his wife recovered from her depression. He says that his wife has his forgiveness, and God’s. He asks that those who judge her do so with mercy and compassion. For many people, this will be very difficult.

Mrs. Robinson’s statement is more interesting. She describes her experience of “mental illness“. She says,

“… my illness led to severe bouts of depression which altered my mood and personality. I fought with those I love most – my children and friends; saw plots where none existed and conducted myself in a manner which was self-destructive and out of character.
During this period of serious mental illness I lost control of my life…

…Psychiatrists may suggest that my mental illness was a significant factor explaining my irrational behaviour – I do not, in any way, question or doubt their judgement — but in order to master my life I do not want to dilute the blame or resist taking full responsibility for my actions. I am completely ashamed and deeply embarrassed.”

I’m going to over-share a bit and say I know what she means. It’s a pretty good description of how our minds do lose touch a bit from time to time. I know I have said and done things when I have not been in good mental health that I certainly regret — especially mean, nasty things.

Iris Robinson attempted suicide, according to Peter Robinson’s statement around midnight on March 1st, 2009. She does not say when her mental illness started, but I’d like to think it was some time before she said this:

There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children.
from Risk Assessment and Management of Sex Offenders June 2008

Around that time, she made a lot of comments on her perception of homosexuality and said some pretty horrific things, but the above quotation is sufficient to give a picture of what she believes. She also claimed that she knew people who had changed from homosexual to heterosexual with the help of a psychiatrist who is linked the discredited American ex-gay Richard Cohen.

There is of course, plenty of speculation that this announcement was tactical and aimed at diffusing some of the focus on the Robinsons. This BBC Newsline update is highlighted on the Slugger O’Toole blog:

During his interview Mr Robinson was also asked if his financial affairs were under investigation. In reply he said he had always acted “in the most professional and ethical way.” He also confirmed he had received a letter from the BBC which he said contained no allegations against him but “asked questions which are easily answered.”

The BBC Spotlight programme has confirmed it has been investigating matters involving Iris Robinson for some time.
In a statement the BBC added that allegations have been put to the Robinsons and their response is awaited.

While I’m eager to hear what the BBC have found and what response they get, what I want to know is if, in retrospect, Iris Robinson regrets saying these nasty and vitriolic things about people who — statistically — are far more likely to attempt suicide than privileged Christian philanderers. I’m wondering if the irrationality and malice of what she has said publicly about homosexuality was a symptom of her mental illness. And if so, is she willing to take it all back?