Iris Robinson on 24-hour suicide watch

Officials helping police inquiries into disgraced former Northern Ireland MP Iris Robinson spoke out about the investigation yesterday as it emerged she is under 24-hour suicide watch.

Castlereagh Borough Council issued a statement playing down reports of police raids on its premises by officers investigating claims that Mrs Robinson failed to declare she received £50,000 from two property developers to start a business for her teenage lover.

The news came as the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) revealed Mrs Robinson, wife of First Minister Peter Robinson, is in psychiatric care in hospital and under suicide watch since her private life hit the headlines.

The DUP issued a statement repeating a threat of legal action over media reports about how 60-year-old Mrs Robinson had an affair with the then 19-year-old Kirk McCambley and secured cash to set him up in business, before subsequently attempting suicide over the episode.

A DUP representative, speaking on behalf of the Robinson family yesterday, denied reports that she plans a return to public life, and said: "The truth is that Iris remains in hospital under acute psychiatric care and under 24-hour suicide watch... Iris publicly admitted her one indiscretion and has paid a high price for it."

The scandal ended Mrs Robinson's political career and threatened to derail her husband's professional life, but yesterday the party claimed continuing headlines are damaging the Robinson family.

The statement from the DUP was prompted by further Sunday newspaper coverage of Mrs Robinson's private life.