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Peter Robinson praises wife's courage after cancer diagnosis

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent
BBC Edwin Poots, Emma Little-Pengelly, Peter Robinson and Carol Graham standing by the portrait of Peter Robinson at Stormont. They are standing beside a cream marble staircase. Poots and Robinson are both in suits, while Little-Pengelly is in a blue dress with a red blazer. Carol Graham is standing next to her portrait of a seated Peter Robinson, which is on display on a wooden easel. She is wearing a cream blazer and patterned skirt,BBC
Edwin Poots, Emma Little-Pengelly, Peter Robinson and artist Carol Graham at the unveiling

The former DUP leader and First Minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson, has spoken for the first time of his wife Iris's battle with cancer.

He revealed she had faced "ups and downs" in recent years, which he said had contributed to delays in the unveiling of his official portrait at Stormont.

The unveiling took place at Stormont on Tuesday, with a special event marking the 76-year-old's contribution to politics.

Robinson said his wife had shown "remarkable courage and tenacity" in dealing with her illness.

PA Media Iris and Peter Robinson smiling in an office. Iris has long red hair and is wearing a black and white top with a cardigan. Peter has short grey hair and is wearing a grey suit with a white shirt and a blue, yellow, dark blue and red striped tie. PA Media
Iris Robinson with Peter Robinson when he was first minister in 2008

Robinson was leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and first minister from 2008 until 2015.

His wife Iris was also a former DUP assembly member and MP but resigned following a financial and marital scandal in 2010.

She has largely stayed out of attending frontline political events in the 15 years since then.

Among those who attended Tuesday's event were Robinson's children, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and other Stormont politicians.

The portrait was created by artist Carol Graham who also commissioned the painting of former Speaker Lord Alderdice.

Pacemaker Iris and Peter in a black and white photo in 1987. Iris has long dark hair and Peter has short dark hair and wearing glasses. Pacemaker
Iris and Peter Robinson after the 1987 election when Peter Robinson won back his east Belfast seat

Robinson told BBC News NI that his wife had been dealing with health complications as a result of operations to treat her cancer.

"She's going through the ups and downs - one day she's in perfect form, the next day she's having to deal with issues like all who go through that," he added.

"It brings me out with a lot more respect for those involved in our health service. We really do have some tremendous people working in it and they don't get the credit they deserve.

"Maybe more funding should go to them rather than administrators of the process, but that's another argument for another day."

The current Assembly Speaker, Edwin Poots, also paid tribute to Robinson, saying it was "no coincidence" that the longest period of political stability happened during his time in office.

"Peter and his skills ensured this assembly didn't have the interruptions that happened previously or afterwards," he said, adding that he felt the institutions were in a "better position" now than they had been for some time.

'Critics in the cheap seats'

Robinson also hit out at those who he called "critics in the cheap seats", or those who would seek to abuse politicians on social media.

"I salute those who have stood up to intimidation but nonetheless it has an impact and discourages people from coming forward for public service," he added.

He said it seemed "disproportionately directed" towards women.

Robinson ended his remarks by saying that there were "boundless opportunities" to improve the lives of people in Northern Ireland.

"We have something very special - for those who haven't lived through dark days we now have people living in a shared society, with so much work yet to be done," he said.

Asked if he believed he would live to see a border poll, Robinson replied: "I think when the earth is put on my coffin we will still be in the United Kingdom."

He added that the issue of Irish unity was a "distraction" from work to improve people's lives and that there was "no reason why" the government should move towards calling a border poll.