Robinson Denies 'Child Abuse' Slur On Gays

Just weeks after DUP MP Iris Robinson insisted in a BBC radio interview that gay people could be "turned around" - and subsequently said she would defend her right to express her religious beliefs - the NI First Minister's wife and party colleague has said her views may have been misrepresented in a second apparent 'gaff'.

She has been reported as saying that "there can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality, than sexually abusing innocent children".

Although Stormont's Hansard report has borne out her alleged comments in a transcript of a Northern Ireland Grand Committee meeting last month - which discussed risk assessment and management of sex offenders - Mrs Robinson said at no stage did she set out to suggest that homosexuality was worse than child abuse.

But, a Hansard official said after checking audio recordings, she was satisfied the comments were reported accurately.

Mrs Robinson has already faced criticism from a number of sources on her initial comments which enraged sections of the gay community.

A former Eastenders TV star has accused the DUP MP Iris Robinson of encouraging "hatred and intolerance" with her recent comments about gay people.

Michael Cashman, who is now an MEP, told Mrs Robinson he was dismayed by her remarks last month that homosexuals should seek psychiatric help.

"It was with great dismay I learned that you have called homosexuality an abomination," he wrote in a letter.

However, a spokesman said the DUP was "committed to equality and opportunity for all" and noted that "If Mr Cashman was genuinely interested in hearing from Mrs Robinson, he would not have made the details of his correspondence available to the media".

The West Midlands Labour party representative's letter continued: "MPs should be representative of all citizens and work towards an inclusive and open society."

See: Police To Investigate Robinson Gay Comments

(BMcC)