Northern Ireland's first lady accused of hate crime

Iris Robinson

Iris Robinson, considered Northern Ireland's first lady as the wife of First Minister Peter Robinson, has been accused of "hate crimes" and is facing both a police investigation and the possibility of a civil complaint, according to reports.

A report in An Phoblacht, an online political weekly in Ireland, said Robinson had been invited onto the BBC Radio Ulster's "The Stephen Nolan Show" to talk about a recent physical assault on a homosexual by a team of thugs described by the reporter as "gay-bashing."

She condemned the violence, then described homosexuality as "disgusting, nauseous, shamefully wicked and vile," and said, "It's an abomination."

Now, the report said, a government agency has confirmed it is investigating complaints that have been filed against her, and one homosexual activist said he's contacted a lawyer about the situation.

The reports said complaints against Robinson have been lodged by Andrew Muir, vice-chair of the Gay and Lesbian Across Down, as well as John O'Doherty, a member of the South Belfast District Policing Partnership.

"O'Doherty described Iris Robinson’s comments as 'amazing' and warned that such views could lead to further attacks against gay and lesbian people. 'People like Mrs. Robinson need to learn that their comments have consequences,'" the report said.

Robinson is the elected member of parliament for Strangford, the report said, and serves as the chairman of Stormont's Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee.

On the radio program, Robinson said, "Homosexuality is not natural. My Christian beliefs tell me that it is an abomination and that is very clear. It is an offense to God, and offensive act and something God abhors."

The report said she continued, "I am clearly not saying that I want people to thrash the living daylights out of a homosexual."

She went on to urge homosexuals to seek psychiatric counseling, because of the success of various programs that offer to help them re-focus their sexual lifestyles.

"I have a lovely psychiatrist who works with me in my office trying to turn homosexuals away from what they are engaged in," she said. "I'm happy to put any homosexuals in touch with this gentleman. I have met people who have turned around and become heterosexual. They are married and having families."

The report said she was describing one of her health policy advisers, Paul Miller.

The report said Miller is a consultant working with the Mater Hospital in Belfast, and he reported he is trying to help "people who had a conflict between their religious identity and their sexual identity."

The comments from both Robinson and Miller were condemned immediately by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which holds "lesbian, gay and bisexual people should be regarded as valued members of society who have exactly the same rights and responsibilities as others."

Such "discrimination" they experience by having to hear opinions such as those held by Robinson, the report said, makes them worry.

The An Phoblacht report called the statements "homophobic" but also quoted other officials noting that the nation does have a freedom of speech, and it appears no laws were broken.

On the This Is London news site, Muir was quoted saying police, "were reluctant to pursue the matter until I told them it was covered by the hate crimes legislation and I would not be leaving until they took a statement from me."

At a website promoting secularism, officials also noted that Robert Toner, from Poleglass, had written to the Equality Commission over the statements, and had enlisted the help of a solicitor to pursue a legal challenge.

The website said Toner was "worried" about the impact of the statements.

"It is very, very hurtful to think that someone says I need psychiatric help because I am gay," he told the website.

WND previously has reported on the advance of such complaints against people expressing a biblical perspective on homosexuality in Canada.

There, a human rights tribunal recently ordered a Christian pastor never again to express moral opposition to homosexuality. The decision in the penalty phase of the quasi-judicial proceedings run by the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal order evangelical pastor Stephen Boisson never again to express his biblical perspective of homosexuality. He also was ordered to apologize for his beliefs.

Allegations of such "hate" crimes also have begun developing in the United States, and in one case, a New Mexico state commission even fined a Christian photographer for refusing to take pictures of a same-sex 'marriage" ceremony.

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