The All New Northern Ireland

[marksi]

The PSNI has started an investigation into Iris Robinson's financial issues, as raised in the BBC Spotlight programme.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ire ... 473535.stm

[nidave]

It jsut gets better and better. I have it from a very reliable source that Iris Robinson's son is gay.
I let out a little squeal when I heard that news. I don't know which one out of the two. I don't think its come out yet (excuse the pun)

[Nick Harvey]

The only way this story could get any more far fetched would be if we heard that the third person she had an affair with was a lesbian.

(Not that I'm suggesting for a moment that that could (alledgedly) be the truth.)

[marksi]

It jsut gets better and better. I have it from a very reliable source that Iris Robinson's son is gay.
I let out a little squeal when I heard that news. I don't know which one out of the two. I don't think its come out yet (excuse the pun)

I could have told you that rumour about a year ago...

[GavBelfast]

It's a little disappointing that the salacious stuff seems to have dried-up (for now).

We appear to have reverted to type with the interminable talks at Hillsborough.

Far be it from the cynic / sceptic in me to suggest that the "crisis talks" provide a rather convenient, long-drawn-out smokescreen from stories affecting both of the current larger parties.

[DVB Cornwall]

The strong possibility of the 'armageddon situation' of a Sinn Fein First Minister, resulting from a split Unionist vote in any sudden Assembly election, does seem to have shut the Unionist protagonists up for now, i'll agree.

[marksi]

Former TV presenter Mike Nesbitt confirmed as Ulster Unionist candidate for vacant Westminster seat of Strangford:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8519542.stm

[Col]

It's still hard to see Nesbitt winning the seat IMO - the DUP vote will probably stay up despite the behaviour of dear Iris, particularly if they pick Jim Shannon or, at a worse extreme, Simon Hamilton.

However, the boundary changes do take in Mike and Lynda's home in Saintfield, where he was interviewed by Ratwoman from UTV with the Take I Take II site displaying on his PC monitor.

[marksi]

Ah, Jim Shannon.

He flew all the way to Argentina to shoot doves.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7117446.stm

Mr Shannon would not be drawn on the number of doves he shot, but it has been suggested the total could have been as high as 9,000.

But the MLA did say that every bird he killed was used by local people.

"I ate them myself and they ate them as well, " added Mr Shannon, who said such holidays were also good for the Argentinean economy.

[GavBelfast]

Jim Shannon has been selected - another potential double-jobber. I suppose that's the DUP talent-pool for you.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8561243.stm


While another former UTV journalist also seeks a spot at Westminster.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8558981.stm


Meanwhile, the much-missed Iris may have a worthy successor ....

http://www.newrydemocrat.com/tabId/684/ ... rupts.aspx

(He was also on Nolan's Radio Ulster programme this morning - the mind boggles.)

[marksi]

Meanwhile, back at the Swish Family Robinson's...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8595547.stm

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, and his wife Iris, bought a valuable piece of land from a property developer for just £5.
According to an investigation by the BBC's Newsline programme, the land deal enabled the Robinsons to sell part of their back garden for nearly £460,000.
They sold the land for £5 to a different developer, allowing the deal for their garden to go through.
The DUP has accused the BBC of a smear campaign against Mr Robinson.