Beset by scandal and in ill health, Iris Robinson tonight resigned from the last of her three political roles.
The DUP confirmed that Mrs Robinson, who has not been seen in public since before Christmas, is no longer a member of the party her husband leads.
Bringing to a sorry end Mrs Robinson's 20-year political career, throughout yesterday it was announced that letters of resignation had been received by the House of Commons, Stormont Assembly and Castlereagh Borough Council.
Neither Mrs Robinson nor her son Gareth, who is also a Castlereagh councillor, were present at a special meeting of the council last night where an as yet unnamed private consultancy was appointed to
investigate whether she broke the law.
Neither Mrs Robinson nor her son Gareth, who is also a Castlereagh councillor, were present at a special meeting of the council last night where an as yet unnamed private consultancy was appointed to
investigate whether she broke the law.
Mrs Robinson leaves public life less than a week after BBC Spotlight's revelations that she carried money between wealthy businessmen and her teenage lover to help with his council-backed cafe.
Her departure from Castlereagh council means that the DUP has now lost control of a council which for three decades First Minister Peter Robinson made his stronghold, winning the grudging respect of rivals for his political brilliance, before leaving in 2007.
Even when the DUP was an outsider in the unionist playing field, Castlereagh council, along with Ian Paisley's topping of the European poll were two notable electoral successes.
Now, from the DUP's position as the dominant unionist party in Northern Ireland, it has lost both in the space of less than 12 months.
At last night's meeting, its acting chief executive, Edwin Campbell,
informed councillors of Alderman Robinson's resignation, minutes
before the council agreed to approve the terms of reference for an
investigation into the affair.
There was little debate among councillors last night, the detail of
the investigation having been largely approved privately at a meeting
of the parties earlier in the day.
Notably, there were no kind words for Mrs Robinson, as would be
customary when a long-standing Alderman stands aside, from her former
party colleagues on the council.
Instead members briefly revealed details of what the private company
carrying out the investigation would be tasked with.
Councillors unanimously agreed that the company should be asked to:
* Identify whether the council had lost money as a result of the lease
at the Lock Keeper's Inn, which Mrs Robinson's one-time lover runs;
* Investigate whether there was any impropriety on the part of
councillors or council officers in awarding the lease;
* Investigate whether councillors and employees complied with the law;
* Make any recommendations to the council, if necessary, to improve
its processes and governance;
* Revise the investigation's terms of reference if necessary.
After the meeting councillors from all parties expressed satisfaction
at the outcome but declined to disclose who had been chosen as the
investigator.
It is understood that the company has not yet been approached about
carrying out the probe but that there has been no financial limit set
on the process, such is the council's desire to clear its name.
However, one local ratepayer who attended last night's meeting was
unimpressed by the lack of discussion about the scandal which has
enveloped the Province in recent days.
The elderly man, who did not want to be named, said that he had been a
ratepayer for 50 years and decided to attend a council meeting for the
first time after reading Monday's News Letter.
He also accused the council of unnecessary secrecy by only allowing
him to view proceedings if signed in by a councillor.
"I've contributed to the councillor's expenses, to this building," he
said, gesturing at the council's lavish offices, "and their mobile
phones which they wouldn't answer today.
"It's a cover-up - there were no questions asked in there because the
parties had agreed what to do at the meeting earlier."
DUP councillors released a short statement after the meeting promising
their support for the "independent, thorough and open investigation".
By leaving Parliament early, Mrs Robinson has forfeited her
taxpayer-funded golden goodbye of between 32,000 and 64,766 in a
"resettlement allowance".
She will, however, be eligible for a "winding-up allowance" of up to
42,068 to pay off staff — several of whom are family members — and
settle her affairs, including the closing of her office.
Just two months ago Mrs Robinson told this newspaper that she fully
intended to stand again for election to Parliament and that she
thought she could "never retire".
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has moved forward its attempt to ban
double-jobbing in Northern Ireland.
Lord Glentoran, the Conservative Northern Ireland spokesman in the
House of Lords, has introduced amendments in Westminster to prevent a
Northern Ireland Assembly member from being paid or receiving a
pensions and allowances if they are also an MP or MEP.